Bringing your commune's priorities to elected officials
The 2011 Constitution (articles 12 to 15, 27 and 139) and Organic Law No. 113-14 on Communes give citizens and associations specific tools.
Which commune?
Choose a commune: the documents will be prefilled with its data.
Ordinary sessions: February, May and October
Communal councils meet three times a year, in the first week of February, May and October (Organic Law 113-14, articles 33 and 48).
Prepare a document
The petition
Citizens and associations can ask for an item to be placed on the council's agenda. If the petition is admissible, it is placed on the next ordinary session; if not, a reasoned refusal must be notified within three months.
At least 100 signatories in a commune of fewer than 35,000 residents, 200 in a commune of 35,000 residents or more, 400 in a commune with arrondissements (districts). Signatories must live or work in the commune, meet the conditions for registration on the electoral rolls and share a direct common interest (art. 123).
For an association: to have been set up in Morocco for more than three years, be in good standing, have its head office or a branch in the commune and work on the subject of the petition (art. 124).
Organic Law No. 113-14 on Communes, articles 121 to 125; Decree 2.16.403
Any citizen can ask a public administration or local authority for the information it holds: action plan, budget, progress of projects. The communal budget is made available to the public.
The request is sent to the commune's officer in charge of access to information (Law 31-13).
Constitution, article 27; Law 31-13 on the right of access to information; Organic Law 113-14, article 194
The Commission for Equity, Equal Opportunities and Gender Approach
An advisory body set up within each communal council in partnership with civil society. Local associations can bring the priorities of the roadmap before it.
Its membership and working methods are set by the council's rules of procedure (art. 120).
This text is a draft to complete. For a petition, the official form and supporting documents are set by Decree 2.16.403: ask at the commune's registry office.
Four steps
1
Get informed
Know your commune's data, its action plan and its budget.
Roadmap, request for access to information
2
Consult
Bring priorities before the advisory bodies of the commune and the region.
Letter to the Equity Commission
3
Co-create
Have an item placed on the council's agenda and contribute to the communal action plan.
Petition generator
4
Monitor and evaluate
Attend public sittings and follow how indicators change over time.
Session calendar, 2014–2024 comparison
Other mechanisms
The communal action plan
It sets the commune's development actions for six years. It is drawn up during the first year of the council's term, through a participatory process, with a needs assessment and a gender approach.
Organic Law 113-14, article 78
Dialogue and consultation mechanisms
Each communal council must set up participatory mechanisms to involve citizens and associations in preparing, monitoring and evaluating the action plan. The council's rules of procedure set out how they work.
Constitution, article 139; Organic Law 113-14, article 119
The region's advisory bodies
The regional council has three advisory bodies: one on equity, equal opportunities and gender approach with civil society, one for young people, and one with economic actors.
