By contrast, local governments are incorporated on the principle of self-governance.
Local governments in Thailand are organized in different forms. For example, there are
urban-based forms such as municipalities, which govern the urban centers within provinces.
There are also rural-based forms of government such as Provincial Administrative
Organizations (PAOs) and Tambon Administrative Organizations (TAOs)2 constituting local
government at a subdistrict level. Throughout Thailand, there are 1,276 municipalities,
75 PAOs, and 6,500 TAOs