Every member of the commune who can read and write, is at least thirty years old, and enjoys full civil and political rights may be elected as a municipal councillor. However, those who have completed a full secondary education are allowed to be elected at the younger age of twenty-five.
Certain individuals, however, are not eligible to serve as councillors. These include:
Persons who have been sentenced to penalties that remove their electoral rights,
Members of the standing army,
State officials currently holding government positions,
Contractors who work for the State, departments, or communes,
Individuals who do not have a profession or own no property in the commune.
These restrictions were intended to prevent conflicts of interest and to ensure that councillors were responsible, independent citizens with ties to the community.
Terms of Office and Meetings
Municipal Councils in urban communes are elected for a three-year term, while those in rural communes serve for two years.
In towns, the council holds four regular sessions each year, and in rural communes, three sessions. Each session lasts for at least fifteen days. However, extraordinary sessions can be called when the interests of the commune demand it, either at the request of the councillors themselves or upon the order of the prefect Customized Guided Tour.
All council meetings are open to the public, except in special cases where privacy is necessary. This openness was designed to promote transparency and public trust in local government.
Validity and Approval of Decisions
The decisions of the Municipal Council fall into three categories:
Immediate decisions, which take effect without higher approval.
Conditional decisions, which require the approval of a higher authority before being enforced.
Royal decisions, which need the King’s approval, granted through a royal decree.
Relationship with the Prefect
The Municipal Council must provide the prefect with any information he requests about local administration. The prefect also has the authority to refer matters of public interest to the council for discussion. Such matters may include the construction of roads, religious practices, charitable works, and public education.
This system ensured that local councils operated with a balance of autonomy and accountability. Councillors represented the interests of their community, while the prefect acted as a link between local and national government, ensuring that the welfare of the commune remained a shared priority.