Local government in Costa Rica

[1] In 1564 Juan Vazquez de Coronado moved the local government from Garcimuñoz to El Guarco and called it Cartago.

[1] 1813 there were 15 local governments in Costa Rica known as Cabildos, including those of the main cities; San José, Alajuela, Cartago and Heredia.

[3] These bodies were integrated by three democratically elected members and a Political President appointed by the Executive Branch and considered the maximum authority in the province.

[3] The presidential decrees of 1862 and 1867 known as "Ordenanzas Municipales" allowed the minor cantons to choose representatives to the provincial cabildos.

[2] Each one of the 82 cantons of Costa Rica is govern by an elected Mayor, the first sub-national authorities since the elimination of provincial governors in 1998.

[4] Councilors and Syndics receive only remuneration for their participation in the Municipal Council’s sessions, also proportional to the city’s budget but not a salary.

[5] It is required to be a resident in the canton for at least two years to be candidate for Mayor and/or Municipal Council and in the district for the distrital offices.

[5] Currently the parties with the most mayors, councilors and syndics are National Liberation, Social Christian Unity and Citizens Action.