Departments of France

In the administrative divisions of France, the department (, ) is one of the three levels of government below the national level ("territorial collectivities"), between the  18 administrative regions and the commune. There are 96 departments in metropolitan France and 5 overseas departments, which also are classified as regions. Departments are further subdivided into 335 arrondissements, themselves divided into cantons; the latter two have no autonomy and are used for the organisation of police, fire departments and sometimes elections.