Michoacán is a state in western Mexico that is divided into 113 municipalities. According to the 2020 Mexican census, it is the ninth most populated state with inhabitants and the 16th largest by land area spanning 58598.7km2.[1] [2]
Municipalities in Michoacan are administratively autonomous of the state according to the 115th article of the 1917 Constitution of Mexico.[3] Every three years, citizens elect a municipal president (Spanish: presidente municipal) by a plurality voting system who heads a concurrently elected municipal council (ayuntamiento) responsible for providing all the public services for their constituents. The municipal council consists of a variable number of trustees and councillors (regidores y síndicos).[4] Municipalities are responsible for public services (such as water and sewerage), street lighting, public safety, traffic, and the maintenance of public parks, gardens and cemeteries.[5] They may also assist the state and federal governments in education, emergency fire and medical services, environmental protection and maintenance of monuments and historical landmarks. Since 1984, they have had the power to collect property taxes and user fees, although more funds are obtained from the state and federal governments than from their own income.
The largest municipality by population is Morelia, with 849,053 residents (17.87% of the state's total), while the smallest is Zináparo with 3,232 residents. The largest municipality by land area is Arteaga which spans 3434.4km2, and the smallest is Aporo with 58.4km2. The newest municipality is José Sixto Verduzco, created on January 25, 1974.[6]