In France, the government, the Parliament, and the courts, exercise the three essential powers (executive, legislative, and judicial power).
With the passing years, the state has transferred a certain number of its competences to its territories, with a juridical personality, and managed by local authorities elected by their citizens. These are the villages, towns, cities, departments and regions, also called local governments. The French state is thus decentralized.
In 1790, France was cut out into 96 departments, divided into "cantons", the number of which varying from 15 to 79, depending on the population. Those "cantons" gather villages, towns and cities. In 1955, those departments were brought together in regions. The State is represented at the local level by the "Prêfets", who control the legality of the actions taken by the local governments.
The SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE department is the 7th largest department in France (8 575 km²). It gathers 57 "cantons" and 573 villages and towns. It is part of the BURGUNDY region, with 3 other departments.
Departments, just like villages, towns and regions are run by elected deliberating assemblies, with a Board made up of a limited number of its members.
The department elected representatives ("Conseillers Généraux") are elected for 6 years, renewable by half every 3 years, by the inhabitants of a "canton" that he or she represents. The "Conseil Général" of SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE is thus composed of 57 elected "Conseillers Généraux".
Every 3 years, the "Conseillers Généraux" elect their President. In 2004, M.Christophe SIRUGUE succeeded M. René BEAUMONT, who had been president since 1985.
In the 19th century, the writer and poet Alphonse de LAMARTINE was President of the Conseil Général in SAÔNE-ET-LOIRE.
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