The parliament on Tuesday approved to amend the Constitution to increase the terms of local councils from three to five years.
The bill, which was submitted by Hithadhoo North MP Mohamed Aslam of ruling Maldivian Democratic Party (MDP), was passed unanimously by the 60 lawmakers present at the sitting.
The MPs accepted two amendments to the bill prior to approval. The first amendment stated that the bill will come into effect on the day it is ratified and publicised in the government's gazette.
The second amendment stipulates that members to city, atoll and island councils be elected in the first elections to be held after the bill is implemented.
Meanwhile, the parliament has also accepted a government-lobbied bill to the Decentralisation Act, which aims to expand the powers granted to local councils. The Committee on Decentralisation has reviewed the bill and forwarded it to the floor for debate.