The author analyses the characteristics of Chilean Municipalities in the period 1930-1983. He verifies the systematic erosion of functions and responsabilities untrusted to the local governments while at the same time the state apparatus grew up considerably. The Municipal reform carried out in 1983 by the military government attempted to correct this situation so to enhance the political control of communities by local authorities. An important expansion of Municipal incomes occurs, but enormous differences between rich and poor communes persist.