The city area is divided into six zones, called "Bezirke" in German and comparable to boroughs in some cities, which themselves are further divided into various communities ("Ortsteile" and "Stadtteile"). Each "borough" has a borough board consisting of 15 voting and 15 non-voting members who are appointed by city council with regard to each party's share of the vote in the municipal elections in the borough in question. The borough boards decide on matters particular to their respective boroughs. These matters are laid down in Siegen's city charter.