As the union of its two regions of Vaduz and Schellenberg, the Principality of Liechtenstein constitutes an indivisible and inalienable whole. The region of Vaduz (Oberland, Upper Country) consists of the municipalities of Vaduz, Balzers, Planken, Schaan, Triesen, and Triesenberg; the region of Schellenberg (Unterland, Lower Country) consists of the municipalities of Eschen, Gamprin, Mauren, Ruggell, and Schellenberg.

Vaduz is the capital and the seat of the national authorities. The Constitution specifies the autonomous scope of action of the municipalities. The eligible voters of each municipality elect a municipal council and a mayor, who exercises the functions of the office either full-time or part-time, depending on the size of the municipality. One sixth of the eligible voters of a municipality may submit a call for an initiative or referendum in municipal affairs to the municipal authorities.

overview map of the municipalities

Communities avail themselves primarily of tax revenue to secure the financial means necessary to fulfill their diverse responsibilities. In addition to their own tax revenue, municipalities are allocated fixed shares of the national taxes; revenue sharing takes the financially weak municipalities into particular consideration. Moreover, the municipalities receive subsidies from the State for projects in civil and structural engineering as well as for certain procurements. In order to manage certain tasks better, municipalities have formed special-purpose associations, such as in the areas of water supply and sewage disposal. Through a foundation, the municipalities run two homes for socio-psychiatric care, two homes for the elderly, and the contact and counseling service for elderly persons.

The conference of mayors provides a forum for mayors to regularly discuss and coordinate cross-municipal affairs. The highest organ of the municipality is the municipal assembly.

The municipal assembly comprises the citizens of the municipality living in the municipality, citizens of other municipalities resident in the municipality, and the honorary citizens of the municipality living in the municipality. Eligibility to vote in municipal affairs is determined by eligibility to vote in national affairs.

By means of a municipal code, the municipalities specify the rights and duties of their inhabitants, the organization of the authorities, and the procedure for interacting with authorities. Since 1998, all municipalities have a municipal code tailored to their needs.

Liechtenstein, with its eleven municipalities, is divided into
the two regions of the Upper Country and the Lower Country