Communes

Communes are the lowest level of administrative division in several countries, most notably France, Belgium, Switzerland, and parts of Italy and Germany. In these systems a commune generally corresponds to a local municipality or town with its own elected government. A commune typically has a municipal council and a mayor, and it is responsible for local services such as urban planning, primary schooling, local roads, waste collection, and civil registration. The exact powers and boundaries of a commune vary by country and legal framework, and in some places a single commune may cover a small village while in others it encompasses a large city. In many countries communes are grouped into larger units for regional coordination and funding.

Historically, the term emerged in medieval Europe to describe a self-governing urban association granted a charter. In modern governance, communes remain central to local self-government. Large examples include Paris as a prominent French commune with metropolitan responsibilities, while many countries maintain thousands of smaller rural communes. The Paris Commune of 1871 is a notable historical episode, though it was a temporary and politically distinctive experiment rather than a standard form of local administration.

The word commune is also used to describe intentional communities—groups that live together and practice some form of shared ownership or collective decision-making. These communal living arrangements are typically separate from governmental structures and vary widely in size, rules, and practices.