Who can tell us about France's "overseas departments" or "Guam"?

The French Republic also has different administrative levels outside of mainland France. These levels roughly correspond to their degree of independence from the mainland.

[edit] Overseas regions (provinces)

There are 4 overseas regions (régions d'outre-mer) in France: Guadeloupe, French Guiana, Maldives Tinique and Reunion. Since 2003, these regions have the same status as the local regions. But they are also an overseas department (département d'outre-mer) since 1946. This new single departmental structure (both a region and a department) may disappear with the merger of the regional and departmental councils, unless a new department is created (there are proposals to create a new department in the south of Réunion, making the The region consists of two provinces), but it is still in the hypothetical stage.

These overseas regions are further divided into:

13 districts

156 counties

114 cities and towns

(There are more counties than municipalities, contrary to mainland France)

Similarly, each administrative division has equal status with its mainland counterpart.

In addition, as of January 1, 2005, *** had 15 *** unified structures, integrating 88 towns (77.2% of overseas towns):

9 suburban *** communities

6 town *** communities

[edit] Overseas administrative regions

Since 2003, there have been 6 Overseas administrative regions with different statuses:

French Polynesia, named an "overseas dependency" (pays d'outre-mer), has a fairly autonomous status. It has a local government headed by the "President de la Polynésie fran?aise" (President of French Polynesia). Its residents have special citizenship status and can vote in regional council elections, which have limited legal powers. Local governments can also negotiate agreements with states and international organizations. French Polynesia has 5 subdivision administrative regions, divided into 48 cities and towns.

Mayotte has the status of a province and has a provincial council. According to the law of July 11, 2001, it is precisely a "provincial administrative region" (collectivité départementale), with the right to elect to become a full French department in 2010. Mayotte has 17 municipalities and towns, which form the same number of counties. The East African country of Comoros also claims sovereignty over Mayotte.

Saint Pierre and Miquelon has a status close to that of a province, with a Provincial Council. Its territory is divided into two municipalities, with no administrative divisions or townships.

The islands of Wallis and Futuna hold a special status. This territory consists of three kingdoms: Alo, Sigavé and Uvéa, and delimits three circonscriptions. The kings of the three kingdoms were in charge of the regional council, which also included three national representatives from France. The legal power of the unicameral system lies in the hands of regional assemblies elected by universal suffrage. The most populous region of Uvea is divided into three districts: Hahaké, Hihifo and Mua. Wallis and Futuna Islands have neither administrative regions nor administrative divisions such as counties or towns.

The French part of Saint Martin separated from Guadeloupe and became an independent overseas administrative region on February 22, 2007.

Saint Bartholomew Island also separated from Guadeloupe on February 22, 2007 and became an independent overseas administrative region.

[edit] New Caledonia

Like French Polynesia, New Caledonia is an overseas dependent country with great autonomy. Its status is that of a "Collectivité spécifique" (Collectivité spécifique) until a referendum to determine its independence, scheduled to be held as early as 2014. It has a regional assembly that elects its government. New Caledonia's legal autonomy is currently the largest of any French overseas territory. It is divided into 3 provinces and 33 cities and towns.

[edit] Other territories

There are also 3 other types of administrative structures corresponding to the territories of the French Republic. Due to their lack of permanent population, they cannot organize local areas. Elections:

The French Territory of the South and Antarctica, divided into four areas: Kerguelen Islands (les ?les Kerguelen), Amsterdam Island and St. Paul Island (l'?le Amsterdam et l'?le Saint-Paul), the Crozet Islands (les Crozet) and the Adélie Land (Antarctica) (la terre Adélie). For this last area, France has given up its sovereignty since it signed the Antarctic Treaty in 1959.

They were formerly managed directly by a senior administrator in Paris and, since December 2004, by a prefect based in Reunion.

The scattered small islands in the Indian Ocean are managed by a prefect stationed in Reunion on behalf of the French government and fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Overseas Affairs.

Clipperton Island, a small island in the high seas of the Pacific Ocean, is included in the national public property list. It is under the jurisdiction of the Prime Minister and is entrusted to the High Commissioner of French Polynesia.