It handles issues regarding the department as a whole and coordinates the process of decentralization, via the municipalities.

Since the establishment of the Uruguayan state in 1830, the departmental command was executed by the Political and Police Chief of Montevideo.

While the Constitution of 1952 once again suppressed them, they did not disband until February 1955 when they were replaced by the Departmental Council, which was a collegial executive, composed of seven members.

Since 1990, Montevideo has been partially decentralized into 18 areas; administration and services for each area is provided by its Zonal Community Center (Centro Comunal Zonal, CCZ), which is subordinate to the Intendancy of Montevideo.

[4][5] The boundaries of the municipal districts of Montevideo were created on 12 July 1993, and successively amended on 19 October 1993, 6 June 1994 and 10 November 1994.