Tlaxcala is a state in Central Mexico that is divided into 60 municipalities. According to the 2020 Mexican census, it is the fifth least populated state with inhabitants and the 2nd smallest by land area spanning 3996.6km2.[1] [2]
Municipalities in Tlaxcala 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 Tlaxcala, with 99,896 residents (7.43% of the state total), while the smallest is San Lucas Tecopilco with 3,077 residents. The largest municipality by land area is Tlaxco which spans 574.7km2, and the smallest is San Lorenzo Axocomanitla with 4.5km2. 16 new municipalities were created in 1995, the most recent being Benito Juárez, established in October 9 of that year.[6]