Samtgemeinde

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A Samtgemeinde (German pronunciation: ['zamtgəmaɪndə]; plural: Samtgemeinden) is a type of administrative division in Lower Saxony, Germany. Samtgemeinden are local government associations of municipalities, equal to the Ämter in Schleswig-Holstein, Mecklenburg-Vorpommern, and Brandenburg, and the Verbandsgemeinden in Rhineland-Palatinate.

Organs

Samtgemeinden have three organs:

• The Samtgemeinde mayor (German: Samtgemeindebürgermeister), elected directly every five years.
• The Samtgemeinde council, (German: Samtgemeinderat) elected every five years.
• The Samtgemeinde committee (German: Samtgemeindeausschuss).

The Samtgemeinde committee has the Samtgemeinde mayor (the chairman of the committee), and according to size of the council from four to ten assistants and the council can decide a rise by two (§56 paragraph 2 local government law).