Canton

Définitions

Dernière mise à jour le :20/05/2019

Définition

A canton is a territorial subdivision of a district. It is the constituency in the framework of which a general councillor is elected. Cantons were created, like departments, by the law of 22 December 1789. In most cases, cantons include several municipalities. But cantons do not always respect communal boundaries: the most populated municipalities belong to several cantons. A canton belongs to one and only one district. Although the canton is still, in principle, home to certain State services (police, tax office), the 6 February 1992 law relative to the territorial administration of the Republic and the 1 July 1992 decree governing devolution ignore it totally.