Gemeindeverband

Gemeindeverband is a union of at least two municipalities () in Germany to form a (statutory corporation) with the purpose to exercise the powers of self-government at a larger scale, while maintaining autonomy of its members.
The word is mentioned multiple times in the German constitution (), but without an exact definition.
The States of Germany have slightly different kinds of a :
 (collective municipalities) to allow direct co-operation of municipalities:
 to allow direct co-operation of districts (), commonly summarised as higher municipal association (: