Cabildo (council)

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A cabildo is an administrative entity of Spain, now exclusive to the Canary Islands, though formerly with a long history especially in the New World. They are bodies of insular jurisdiction in the islands of, Gran Canaria, Lanzarote, Fuerteventura, Tenerife, La Palma, La Gomera and El Hierro. La Graciosa does not have its own cabildo, being under trusteeship of Lanzarote. This entity has similarities with the consells insulars (insular councils) of the Balearic Islands in the Spanish Mediterranean.

The members of a cabildo are elected by direct universal suffrage by the Spanish citizens of each island. The frontrunner of the most-voted list becomes automatically President of the cabildo, although this can be changed through a motion to censor later.

The cabildos were created under the Law of Cabildos of 1927. During Francisco Franco's dictatorship its members were elected by him, although they maintained their functions of insular administration. Once democracy was restored, cabildos assumed a competency in between those of provincial deputies and autonomous communities, in matters of health, environment, culture, sports, industry, highways, freeways, roads, drinking water and irrigation, hunting and fishing licencing, museums, beaches, public transportation and land organization. Cabildos can apply certain taxes on fuels.