Why go
The division between regional and island institutions helps explain why the archipelago has both a common identity and distinct local administration. It is useful context when reading about the islands' languages, tourism, environment or public decisions. Formentera is distinctive because its island council also serves as its municipal council.
The full story
The Balearic Islands form one of Spain's autonomous communities. Their parliament makes regional laws, approves the budget, chooses the president and oversees the government. The president leads the regional executive, called the Govern de les Illes Balears. The autonomous community has responsibilities in areas including education, health, tourism and environmental protection. This common level of government sits in Palma, on Mallorca, the regional capital. Each of the four inhabited principal islands also has an island council, or consell insular. The councils represent island interests and handle a range of local matters, including aspects of land use and public services. Formentera has only one municipality, so its island council also acts as the municipal council. Catalan and Spanish are co-official languages of the autonomous community. That arrangement is worth recognizing in public names: Illes Balears is the Catalan name of the region, while Islas Baleares is Spanish. The institution's name tells you which level of island life a public decision concerns.