Editing Alcalde (section)

== Modern usage ==
In modern Spanish, the term ''alcalde'' is equivalent to a [[mayor]], and is used to mean the local executive officer in [[Municipality|municipalities]] throughout Spain and Latin America. For example, the title ''[[Municipalities of Puerto Rico|alcalde]]'' continued to be used in the Spanish-speaking American Commonwealth of [[Puerto Rico]] after the occupation of the island during the [[Spanish–American War]] in 1898. In the autonomous Spanish cities of [[Ceuta]] and [[Melilla]], however, the ''[[Alcalde-Presidente|alcaldes-presidentes]]'' have greater powers than their peninsular colleagues.

Because the [[United States]] incorporated parts of the former [[Viceroyalty of New Spain]], the office had some influence in the local political and legal developments of those areas and is mentioned in judicial cases.  This title continued to be in use in the Southwest United States after the [[Mexican–American War]] until a permanent political and judicial system could be established.<ref>For example, it was in use in [[San Francisco]], as evidenced by ''Surocco v. Geary'', [[Supreme Court of California]], 3 Cal. 69, 58 Am.Dec. 385, "Geary, at that time Alcalde of San Francisco..."</ref> Alcaldes were notorious for their support for rule of law and opposition to vigilantes.<ref>{{cite journal|url=http://cdigital.uv.mx/handle/123456789/3807|title=El enmaletado|first=Esquina Latina (Organización|last=Colombia)|date=29 March 1989|website=uv.mx|access-date=29 March 2018}}</ref> In nineteenth-century California, [[Stephen Johnson Field]], later an associate justice of the [[U.S. Supreme Court]], once served as the only ''alcalde'' of [[Marysville, California]], a town established in 1850 during the [[California Gold Rush|Gold Rush]] by immigrants, who temporarily used the Spanish and Mexican form of municipal government. In Texas, the position of [[Commissioners' Court|county judge]] was based on that of the ''alcalde'' which had existed in the state prior to the [[Texas Revolution]]. Like the ''alcaldes'' before them, county judges under the Texas Constitution wield both judicial and chief executive functions. Although in larger counties today the county judge usually functions solely as county chief executive, in smaller counties, the role of the county judge continues to have many of the combined judicial and administrative functions of the ''alcalde''.

The city of [[Sonoma, California]], has a tradition to name an honorary title of ''Alcalde/Alcaldesa'', to preside over ceremonial events of the city, with "mayor" being the official position of city governor.

In [[Belize]], any rural community may appoint an alcalde. The alcalde serves both judicial and administrative functions and is paid a small stipend by the government. The alcalde is responsible for managing communal land, judging disputes, and determining punishment for petty crimes. This type of local government is most commonly used by Maya communities in southern Belize.<ref name="belgov">{{Cite web |url=http://www.belize.gov.bz/index.php/our-governance/how-we-are-governed/local-government |title=Government of Belize - Local Government |access-date=2015-11-15 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20150923183422/http://www.belize.gov.bz/index.php/our-governance/how-we-are-governed/local-government |archive-date=2015-09-23 |url-status=dead }}</ref>