municipal council
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municipal council
The elected parliament or highest representative body of the citizens in a municipality. It makes important decisions for the municipality, for example about the budget or construction projects.
Die Gemeindevertretung hat den Bau des neuen Kindergartens einstimmig beschlossen.
The municipal council unanimously approved the construction of the new kindergarten.
The word is made up of 'Gemeinde' (municipality) and 'Vertretung' (representation). So it literally describes the representation of the citizens of a municipality.
Die Mitglieder der Gemeindevertretung werden alle fünf Jahre gewählt.
The members of the municipal council are elected every five years.
The term for this political body is not the same throughout Germany. Depending on the federal state, or also in Austria and Switzerland, other terms such as 'Gemeinderat' (municipal council) or 'Stadtrat' (city council) may be common.
In Bayern heißt das Gremium meist Gemeinderat, in Hessen Gemeindevertretung.
In Bavaria, the body is usually called Gemeinderat, in Hesse Gemeindevertretung.
In a political context, 'Gemeindevertretung' (municipal council) is often used with verbs such as 'tagen' (to meet/session), 'beschließen' (to decide/approve), or 'entscheiden' (to decide). People can 'in die Gemeindevertretung gewählt werden' (be elected to the municipal council) or be a 'Mitglied der Gemeindevertretung' (member of the municipal council).
Die Gemeindevertretung tagt einmal im Monat im Rathaus.
The municipal council meets once a month in the town hall.
municipal council / council member
'Gemeinderat' and 'Gemeindevertretung' are very close in meaning. Both can refer to the elected body that represents the citizens of a municipality and makes important decisions. The difference often depends on the German federal state and on the official name. In many places people say 'Gemeinderat'; in others, the same or a very similar body is officially called 'Gemeindevertretung'. Learners may confuse the words because their tasks are similar. It is best to pay attention to the name that is officially used in the particular municipality.
Die Gemeindevertretung stimmt morgen über das Bauprojekt ab.
The municipal council will vote on the construction project tomorrow.
Der Gemeinderat berät heute über den Haushalt der Gemeinde.
The municipal council is discussing the municipality's budget today.