Obec

Obec (plural: obce or obcí) is the Czech and Slovak word for a municipality (both in the Czech Republic, Slovakia and abroad). The literal meaning of the word is "commune" or "community". It is the smallest administrative unit that is governed by elected representatives. Cities are also municipalities. The council is called "obecní zastupitelstvo/obecné zastupiteľstvo" or "zastupitelstvo města/mestské zastupiteľstvo" or "zastupitelstvo městyse", the office is called "obecní úřad/obecný úrad" or "úřad města/mestský úrad" or "úřad městyse". An obec can have its own flag and coat of arms. An obec is composed of one or more cadastral areas ("katastrální území/katastrálne územia"). Obec can have several settlements or parts whether villages or hamlets.

There are 2891 obcí in Slovakia as of 2008.

After meeting certain conditions such as population over 5000, being well accessible, having cultural or economical significance and having an urban style of settlement an obec can be declared a town ("mesto").

The number of municipalities (obcí) in the Czech Republic is 6250 (in 2010).

Whole area of the republic including mountains, forests and national parks is divided into municipalities (excepting military grounds - see Unincorporated Areas of the Czech Republic). Smallest municipalities are shaped only by one small village, some by two or more villages or by the city and several villages. Mostly a municipality has the same name as the settlement where is the municipal office, but there are many exceptions: some municipalities have double name (Sedlec-Prčice, Brandýs nad Labem-Stará Boleslav), some municipalities have a name which have no its settlement (Orlické Podhůří) and some municipalities have the office in other part than in the "nominal".

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