The number of ayuntamientos increased in Mexican Texas as the number of colonists grew.

Mexican independence did not fundamentally change local government. In 1820 San Antonio altered its ayuntamiento to conform, as did Goliad. The writers of the constitution relied on municipal governments to appoint deputies to the congress, and municipalities throughout New Spain restructured their councils as a result. The new document also officially made the colonies of Spain part of the empire and thus entitled them to representation in the Spanish congress, the Cortes. The 1812 Constitution of Cádiz called for popular election to the ayuntamientos and thus ended lifetime appointments to the bodies. Thus the ayuntamiento served as a mediating institution between local and central authorities.

In turn, the ayuntamiento often represented the interests of town citizens to the royal authority. One of its primary functions, in fact, was to relay the orders of officials in Spain or Mexico to the local populace. Though the powers of the ayuntamiento seemed wide, the body operated within the limits imposed by a higher authority, whether viceroy or governor. The ayuntamiento managed police and security matters, hospitals, health measures such as the inspection of food markets and the removal of stagnant ponds, public roads, weights and measures, taxation, and agriculture. Spanish colonists in America commonly referred to the ayuntamiento as the cabildo, though this term first meant the building in which the council met. Although elected officials did exist, by the late colonial period many ayuntamientos had to resort to forced service, for often few men of consequence volunteered to serve. Many offices were inherited, and others were sold by the crown or their current holders. Often it received little voluntary support from the people it represented. The ayuntamiento was in most cases not a democratic institution. Other local administrators-police chiefs and fine collectors, for instance-sometimes held positions in the council, though often these additional members were not allowed to vote. The council members consisted of the alcalde, who served as president, a varying number of regidors ( see REGIDOR) or councilmen, and a síndico procurador, the equivalent of a city attorney. Its size varied and was generally based on the population of the town. It functioned as the town council and had a wide range of administrative duties. The ayuntamiento was the principal governing body of Spanish municipalities.

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