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France: Departments

Last modified: 2002-11-02 by ivan sache
Keywords: france | department | departement | conseil general | general council |
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Status of the departments

  • In 1790, the departments (départements) were created to replace the monarchic administrative system (which included the traditional provinces). The departments were then administrated by a Department Council (Conseil du Département) and a Board of Directors (Directoire) including the Préfet and one or more Sous-Préfets.
  • In 1800, the General Councils (Conseils Généraux) were created.
  • In 1848, during the ephemeral Second Republic, the General Councils were for the first time elected by universal suffrage.
  • In 1871, the fundamental law of 10 April stated that each canton (subdivision of department) should be represented by one Councillor (Conseiller Général), elected for 6 years. In practice, there is an election in half of the cantons every three years, during the élections cantonales.
  • In 1982, the law of 2 March established administrative decentralization and gave the departmental executive power to the General Council. After each election, the General Councillors gather and elect the President of the General Council, who is the chief of the executive power. In case of equality of votes, the senior Councillor is elected for President.

Source: Website of the General Council of Aisne

Ivan Sache, 10 December 2001

Origin and evolution of the departments

The creation of the departements was decided by the Assemblée nationale constituante according to Jacques Thouret's proposal: 84 equal squares of 324 square lieues each, the whole design being centered on Paris.
On 15 January 1790, France was divided in 83 departements, each of them being divided in cantons and communes.
The war which had started on 20 April 1792 against the European princes yielded significant territorial conquests, which were also incorporated to France as new departments: