General councils (France)

The General Council ( conseil général French, German as " general council " ) is the highest collegial body elected by a French département.

The members of the General Council, the General Councils (French conseillers généraux ), are elected in direct elections for six years. In this case, half of the members elected every three years. As electoral districts serve the cantons, therefore these elections cantonal elections ( french élections canto dimensional ) are called.

Due to the decentralization laws of 1982, the position of the General Council against the to be appointed by the government prefect was strengthened. In particular, the executive of the department has since been chaired by the President of the General Council ( conseil général du président French ), who is elected by the General Council.