Alcalde (; ), or
Alcalde ordinario, is the traditional Spanish municipal magistrate, who had both
judicial and
administrative functions. An
alcalde was, in the absence of a
corregidor, the presiding officer of the
Castilian cabildo (the municipal council) and judge of first instance of a town.
Alcaldes were elected annually, without the right to reelection for two or three years, by the
regidores (council members) of the municipal council. The office of the
alcalde was signified by a
staff of office, which they were to take with them when doing their business.