Constitution Act 1975
Local government is recognised in Part 2A of the Constitution Act 1975 to be:
'a distinct and essential tier of government consisting of democratically elected councils having the powers that the Parliament considers necessary to ensure the peace, order and good government of each municipal district'
Part 2 of the Constitution Act gives the Victorian Parliament the power to make laws it considers necessary for local government, including laws relating to the constitution of councils, council elections and the powers and duties of councillors and council staff.
The status of local government in the constitution is protected. Amendments to the Constitution Act in 2003 prevent Part 2A from being repealed or amended unless the change is approved by a majority of Victorian electors voting in a referendum.
Read the 
Constitution Act 1975.
Web Site Updates
DPCD's websites are progressively being updated to reflect the changes following the establishment of the
department. This means you will continue to see some references to the Department for Victorian Communities
(DVC) as changes are being made.
Linked page opens in a new window