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Municipalities, departments and regions

The mayor, the municipality, the department, the region and the prefect: the territorial organisation of France in questions.

17 questions · Updated on 2026-10-28

In the exam, the questions are in French: the translation is an aid to help you understand.

Quelle île est un département d'outre-mer français ?

Which island is a French overseas department?

  1. AnswerLa RéunionRéunion
  2. La SicileSicily
  3. La SardaigneSardinia
  4. MadagascarMadagascar
Explanation Réunion, an island in the Indian Ocean, is an overseas department and region (DROM), like Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Mayotte. Sicily and Sardinia are Italian.

Source : La Réunion · Official lists: CSP, Naturalisation

Lequel de ces départements de France est le plus touristique ?

Which of these French departments is the most popular with tourists?

  1. AnswerParisParis
  2. Le CantalCantal
  3. La LozèreLozère
  4. La CreuseCreuse
Explanation Paris has some of the most visited sites in the world, such as the Louvre and the Eiffel Tower. Creuse, Lozère and Cantal are rural departments with far fewer visitors.

Source : Une puissance touristique · Official lists: CR

Quel département français a une frontière avec le Brésil ?

Which French department borders Brazil?

  1. La GuadeloupeGuadeloupe
  2. La RéunionRéunion
  3. AnswerLa GuyaneFrench Guiana
  4. La MartiniqueMartinique
Explanation French Guiana is in South America, on the Atlantic coast. Thanks to it, France has a land border with Brazil and Suriname. Its prefecture is Cayenne.

Source : Guyane · Official lists: Naturalisation

Quel est le 101ème département français depuis 2011 ?

Which has been the 101st French department since 2011?

  1. AnswerMayotteMayotte
  2. La RéunionRéunion
  3. La MartiniqueMartinique
  4. La GuyaneFrench Guiana
Explanation Mayotte, an Indian Ocean island between Madagascar and Mozambique, became the 101st French department in 2011. France has 101 departments: 96 in mainland France and 5 overseas.

Source : Mayotte · Official lists: Naturalisation

Combien y a-t-il de départements en France ?

How many departments are there in France?

  1. 2727
  2. 1818
  3. 577577
  4. Answer101101
Explanation France has 101 departments, 5 of them overseas. The department mainly handles social support (RSA, help for disabled people) and lower secondary schools (collèges). Don't confuse them with the 18 regions.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: CSP, Naturalisation

Qui représente l'État dans un département ?

Who represents the State in a department?

  1. Le président du conseil départementalThe president of the departmental council
  2. AnswerLe préfetThe prefect
  3. Le maire du chef-lieuThe mayor of the main town
  4. Le député de la circonscriptionThe local deputy
Explanation The prefect represents the State in the department and runs its services. They organise security, issue documents (including residence permits) and check that local authorities obey the law.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (2/3) · Official lists: CSP, Naturalisation

Qui dirige la commune ?

Who runs the town (commune)?

  1. Le députéThe deputy
  2. Le Premier ministre, depuis MatignonThe Prime Minister, from Matignon
  3. Le préfetThe prefect
  4. AnswerLe maire, avec le conseil municipalThe mayor, with the municipal council
Explanation The town is run by elected officials: the municipal council and the mayor, elected for 6 years. It manages nursery and primary schools, town planning and local services. There are about 35,000 towns.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: CSP, CR

Qui est le préfet ?

Who is the prefect?

  1. Un jugeA judge
  2. Un élu choisi par les habitants de la région tous les 6 ansAn official elected by the region's residents every 6 years
  3. AnswerLe représentant de l'État dans le départementThe State's representative in the department
  4. Le chef de la police municipaleThe head of the municipal police
Explanation The prefect is not elected: they represent the State in the department and run its services. They handle neither justice nor the army, but ensure the State's continuity. The prefecture issues residence permits.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (2/3) · Official lists: CSP, CR

Quelle est l'organisation administrative de la France ?

What is the administrative organisation of France?

  1. Il n'y a aucune collectivité localeThere are no local authorities
  2. Tout est décidé par les mairesEverything is decided by the mayors
  3. AnswerDécentralisée : communes, départements et régionsDecentralised: towns, departments and regions
  4. Un État fédéral composé de cantons indépendantsA federal State made up of independent cantons
Explanation The Republic's organisation is decentralised: the State transfers powers to local authorities (towns, departments, regions, special-status and overseas authorities).

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: CR

Quel est le rôle principal du département ?

What is the main role of the department?

  1. Gérer les universités et recruter tous les enseignants du paysRunning universities and recruiting all the country's teachers
  2. Battre la monnaieMinting money
  3. Voter les lois nationalesVoting national laws
  4. AnswerL'action sociale et les collègesSocial support and lower secondary schools
Explanation The department mainly handles social support: help for disabled people, managing the RSA benefit. It also runs lower secondary schools (collèges). Universities and hiring teachers are the State's job.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: CR

Quel est le rôle principal des communes ?

What is the main role of towns (communes)?

  1. Juger les procèsRuling on trials
  2. AnswerGérer les services de proximité, comme les écoles primairesRunning local services, such as primary schools
  3. Délivrer les passeports diplomatiquesIssuing diplomatic passports
  4. Voter le budget de l'armée et déclarer la guerre aux pays voisinsVoting the army budget and declaring war on neighbouring countries
Explanation The town handles daily life: nursery and primary schools, town planning, housing, social support and local services. It is run by the mayor and the municipal council.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: CR

Combien de communes environ existe-t-il en France ?

About how many towns (communes) are there in France?

  1. Environ 5 000About 5,000
  2. AnswerEnviron 35 000About 35,000
  3. Environ 1 000About 1,000
  4. Environ 500 000About 500,000
Explanation France has 34,875 towns, so about 35,000: it is the most widespread local authority. Many are small villages. Each has a mayor and a municipal council.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (3/3) · Official lists: CR

Quelles sont les fonctions du maire ?

What are the duties of the mayor?

  1. Voter les loisVoting laws
  2. Juger les délits commis dans la communeJudging offences committed in the town
  3. AnswerDiriger la commune et célébrer les mariagesRunning the town and performing marriages
  4. Délivrer les titres de séjour à la place de la préfectureIssuing residence permits instead of the prefecture
Explanation The mayor runs the town with the municipal council (schools, planning, local services). The mayor is also the registrar: performs marriages and records births and deaths. Residence permits are the prefect's job.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: Naturalisation

Qui gère les collèges publics ?

Who manages public lower secondary schools (collèges)?

  1. La régionThe region
  2. La communeThe town
  3. AnswerLe départementThe department
  4. L'Union européenneThe European Union
Explanation For schools, roles are shared: the town runs nursery and primary schools, the department lower secondary schools (collèges), the region upper secondary schools (lycées). The State sets curricula and hires teachers.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (3/3) · Official lists: Naturalisation

Qui gère les écoles primaires et maternelles publiques ?

Who manages public primary and nursery schools?

  1. AnswerLa communeThe town (commune)
  2. Le départementThe department
  3. Les parents d'élèves, réunis en associationPupils' parents, organised in an association
  4. La régionThe region
Explanation The town runs nursery and primary schools: buildings, upkeep, equipment and the canteen. The department runs collèges and the region lycées; the State sets the curricula.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (3/3) · Official lists: Naturalisation

Comment sont désignés les maires ?

How are mayors chosen?

  1. Ils sont nommés par le président de la République après avis du Premier ministreThey are appointed by the President after consulting the Prime Minister
  2. Ils sont nommés par le préfetThey are appointed by the prefect
  3. Ils sont tirés au sortThey are drawn by lot
  4. AnswerIls sont élus par le conseil municipalThey are elected by the municipal council
Explanation In municipal elections, residents elect the municipal councillors for 6 years. Then the council elects the mayor from among its members. So the mayor is elected, not an appointed official.

Source : La démocratie et la République (2/2) · Official lists: Naturalisation

Quelle collectivité territoriale est responsable des transports régionaux ?

Which local authority is responsible for regional transport?

  1. La préfecture de police de Paris, pour toute la FranceThe Paris police prefecture, for the whole of France
  2. AnswerLa régionThe region
  3. Le départementThe department
  4. La communeThe town
Explanation The region organises regional transport, such as TER trains and intercity coaches. It also runs upper secondary schools (lycées) and supports economic development and regional planning.

Source : Le découpage administratif de la France (1/3) · Official lists: Naturalisation

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