Francja

Abstract

Territorial collectivities (communes, departments, regions, collectivities with unique status, as well as overseas collectivities) have a crucial meaning in the public administration system of the French Republic. Among them, a commune has a particular position. It is a constant and significant, and, according to the considerable part of the doctrine views, basic structural element of the whole public administration system. The particular status of a commune results from the social importance of tasks entrusted to it, as well as the manner they are performed. A commune performs several functions (it is, above all: a district of local home rule, a constituency where the local community elects its representatives to the commune council, a unit of territorial division of the country, as well as an administrative district of the country performing some of the tasks of local dimension through its representatives). This study also presents basic legal solutions regarding departments and regions, in the structure referring to the one suggested when characterizing a commune as the most complete and developed form among the French territorial collectivities. The characterized organizational structure and basic principles of managing and functioning of territorial collectivities (and their bodies) do not entitle to a claim that the process of improving legal solutions regulating the legal status of the French territorial collectivities is completed. It is because these structures evolve under the influence of the changing environment and, partially, they change this environment themselves. Often in the subject literature a question is posed about the justness of further reforms of the public administration system.