The Conseil General President prepares and implements the departmental assembly decisions, with the assistance of the departmental services, which he runs (1 458 agents work today for the SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE department). He represents the Justice Department, and signs on its behalf contracts and conventions. He manages the patrimony and the department domain (5 007 kms of secondary roads –RD- and 150 public buildings, non- including the secondary schools).
The deliberating assembly meets at least once per quarter at the President’s initiative. It examines the files that are submitted to its approval. The "Conseillers Généraux" work in Commissions, each one being in charge of a specific departmental scope of activities. Its members appoint their vice-presidents (with a proportional representation of the general assembly). All together they are the standing committee ("Commission Permanente").

This standing committee is a representation of the general assembly; it receives delegation to follow the files and to make decisions, in between the general assembly meetings, in all area except for the budget . The continuation of the institution policy is thus ensured.

In 1982-1983, the Government entrusted to the department new fields of competences, such as :

Social assistance, with the granting and the management of sizeable subventions in favour of children, families, disabled or elderly people.

Mother and infant welfare, and medico-social actions.

The professional insertion of deprived people.

The construction, equipment and maintenance of secondary schools.

The organization of non-urban school transport (free in SAÔNE-ET- LOIRE),

The maintenance and construction of secondary roads.

The financial assistance for towns and villages for their real investments.

The participation in the budget for the fire protection organization.

The promotion of Tourism.

The protection of the environment.

In addition to these mandatory competences, departments can be called up, in a voluntary way, for other fields they wish to support, considering their cultural, economic, patrimonial and agricultural characteristics, with the main concern to develop the districts in an harmonious and well-balanced way.

In addition, the departments may take part in national interest projects through the "contrats de plan" (i.e main roads, universities, …).
The revenus for the departmental budget are local direct taxes, for which the
" Conseil" votes the rates, and indirect taxes, and State subventions.

The 2004 budget for the Department of SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE goes above 387 M€.

In 2004, the State proceeded to a new stage of decentralization, entrusting to the departments, on one hand, an increased role in the social field, and on the other hand, new competences : management of the personnel in charge of maintenance in the secondary schools, maintenance of the main road network.
These transfers will be effective in 2005.