The French territory includes the metropolis, the 4 French oversees departments ( Guadeloupe, Martinique, Guyana and the Reunion), the 4 oversees territories (French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Wallis and Futuna, the French South and North poles) as well as collective territories with a special status: Mayotte and St Pierre et Miquelon.

In terms of local power, 3 levels of collective territory overlap each other with distinct jurisdictions.

The Communes (towns)
36,763 communes, smaller administrative subdivisions, carry out local jurisdictions such as the construction of schools, town planning, social services, collection of household rubbish and sanitation.

The Departments
The departments, (96 plus 4 oversees) created by the revolution in 1789, have considerable jurisdiction in terms of social services, construction and maintenance of schools, roads etc

The Regions
The regions (26 of which 4 are oversees), more recent authorities whose area of jurisdiction is continually growing, run policies centred on economic development, vocational training and town and country planning.