cabildo (käbēlˈdō) [key], autonomous municipal council, the
lowest administrative unit in the Spanish government. The
institution was especially influential in Spanish America, where
it was set up in the early 16th cent. in imitation of the
Castilian ayuntamiento, the name it was at first briefly called.
Composed originally of elected administrative officials, usually
local landowners, it was the only institution in which creoles
could participate. It was presided over by the alcalde mayor,
the administrator of a provincial division, who was assisted in
judicial matters by alcaldes ordinarios (see alcalde). The
cabildo exercised considerable executive, legislative, and
judicial powers; it distributed lands, imposed taxes, provided
for police service, and supervised trade and public facilities
such as hospitals and jails. In case of emergency the council
could choose a governor, lieutenant governor, or captain
general. The cabildo steadily evolved in the course of the 16th
and 17th cent. into an appointive, pr