AS MUNICIPALIDADES E O IMPÉRIO: O CASO DO RIO GRANDE DO NORTE (1830-1840)

Abstract

This paper has the purpose of discuss the role played by municipalities in the imperial administration. As are majority in historiographical debates, the consensus on the effectiveness of the local councils that subordinated to other spheres of power, municipal chambers lost ground in studies on the construction of the imperial state, taking a secondary role, which turned out to limit the prospects for analysis. The proposal of this text is to present evidence to a redefinition of the field of municipalities in the monarchy, highlighting the scope of its administrative skills, as the conflicts with other governmental bodies, especially the pr ovincial sphere. The experiences of the provincial government with the municipalities of Rio Grande do Norte during the 1830’s will be the starting point for examining these issues in general want to put some ideas widespread, especially in regard to “nullification” of municipalities.