Venezuela's 336 municipalities constitute the second and final level of administrative division in the country's territorial organization. Municipalities serve as the primary unit of local government, operating below the state level to manage affairs directly affecting communities and residents. These entities handle essential public services including waste collection, local policing, urban planning, maintenance of municipal roads and infrastructure, and the administration of local markets and public spaces. Each municipality is governed by a mayor (alcalde) and a municipal council, both elected by popular vote. Municipalities possess their own legal personality and autonomy in managing local budgets, which are derived from locally collected taxes, fees, and transfers from state and federal governments. The scope of municipal authority varies depending on population size and urban development, with larger metropolitan municipalities typically providing more extensive services than their rural counterparts.