AVerbandsgemeinde (German pronunciation:[fɛɐ̯ˈbantsɡəˌmaɪndə]ⓘ; pluralVerbandsgemeinden[fɛɐ̯ˈbantsɡəˌmaɪndn̩]ⓘ) is a low-leveladministrative unit in theGermanfederal states ofBrandenburg,Rhineland-Palatinate andSaxony-Anhalt. AVerbandsgemeinde is typically composed of a small group ofmunicipalities.
The state of Rhineland-Palatinate is divided into 163Verbandsgemeinden, which are municipal associations grouped within the 24districts of the state and subdivided into 2,257Ortsgemeinden (singularOrtsgemeinde[ˈɔʁtsɡəˌmaɪndə]ⓘ) which comprise single settlements.[1]
Most of theVerbandsgemeinden were established in 1969. Formerly the name for an administrative unit wasAmt. Most of the functions of municipal government for several municipalities are consolidated and administered centrally from a larger or more central town or municipality among the group, while the individual municipalities (Ortsgemeinden) still maintain a limited degree of local autonomy.
The 11 districts ofSaxony-Anhalt are divided intoVerwaltungsgemeinschaften and, since 1 July 2009 alsoVerbandsgemeinden. Since the January 2010 government reform, there are 18Verbandsgemeinden in Saxony-Anhalt.[2]
Other German states have similar administrative units:
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