York, 1903). A study of some value is J. T.
Young, Administrative Centralization and
Decentralization in France, in _Annals of Amer.
Acad. of Political and Social Science_, Jan.,
1898.]

IV. LOCAL GOVERNMENT TO-DAY (p. 346)

*380. The Department: the Prefect.*--For administrative purposes, the
Republic is divided, first of all, into 86 departments, besides which
there is the "territory" of Belfort, a remnant of the department of
the Upper Rhine, most of which was acquired by Germany in 1871. Since
1881 the three departments of Algeria have been dealt with
substantially as if included within continental France.

At the head of each of the departments is a prefect, appointed and
removed nominally by the President of the Republic, but in reality by
the Minister of the Interior. The prefect, who is much the most
important of all local officials, is at the same time an agent of the
general government and the executive head of the department in the
administration of local affairs. As agent of the general government he
acts, in some instances, upon detailed instructions; in others, he
enjoys a wide range of discretion. His powers extend to virtually all
public matters affecting the department. He supervises the execution
of the laws; maintains a vigorous control over all administrative
officials of the department, upon occasion annulling their acts; gives
the authorities at Paris information and advice respecting the affairs
of the department; nominates to a variety of subordinate offices;
exercises an oversight of the communes, some of whose measures become
effective only after receiving his assent; and, in certain instances
indicated by law, acts as a judge. He is assisted by a secretary and a
_conseil de prefecture_, appointed by the President. This prefectorial
council, consisting of from three to nine members, advises the prefect
and, in certain cases, exercises jurisdiction as an administrative
tribunal. The prefect is essentially a political official. He owes his
appointment not infrequently to political considerations, and with the
fall of the ministry his tenure is apt to be terminated.

*381. The Department: the General Council.*--As executive head of the
department the prefect is required to work with a _conseil general_,
or representative assembly, elected by the inhabitants of the
department on