Gemeindeverband (German: [ɡəˈmaɪ̯ndəfɛɐ̯ˌbant] ) is a union of at least two municipalities (German: Gemeinde) in Germany to form a Körperschaft des öffentlichen Rechts (statutory corporation) with the purpose to exercise the powers of self-government at a larger scale, while maintaining autonomy of its members.

The vertical (federal) separation of powers across the federal government (white), the states (yellow), and the municipalities (brown).Federal LevelFederal StatesCity States(Governmental Districts)(Rural) Districts(Collective Municipalities)Municipalities(Municipalities)Urban Districts
Administrative divisions of Germany (clickable image)

The word is mentioned multiple times in the German constitution (German: Grundgesetz),[1][2][3][4][5][6][7][8][9][10][11][12][13][14] but without an exact definition.

The States of Germany have slightly different kinds of a Gemeindeverband:

Gemeindeverbände unterhalb der Kreisebene (collective municipalities) to allow direct co-operation of municipalities:

Gemeindeverbände oberhalb der Kreisebene to allow direct co-operation of districts (Landkreis), commonly summarised as higher municipal association (German: Höherer Kommunalverband:

References

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  1. ^ Art. 28 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  2. ^ Art. 84 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  3. ^ Art. 85 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  4. ^ Art. 91e Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  5. ^ Art. 93 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  6. ^ Art. 104b Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  7. ^ Art. 105 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  8. ^ Art. 106 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  9. ^ Art. 107 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  10. ^ Art. 108 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  11. ^ Art. 115c Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  12. ^ Art. 120 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  13. ^ Art. 134 Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]
  14. ^ Art. 135a Grundgesetz (GG) [Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany]