cantons

Cantons are territorial subnational units that, in various states, function as administrative or political subdivisions with differing degrees of autonomy. The term derives from the French canton, originally meaning corner or division. The most prominent use is in Switzerland, where cantons are nearly sovereign member states within the Swiss Confederation.

In Switzerland, there are 26 cantons, each with its own constitution, parliament, government, and judiciary. Cantons have broad powers over areas such as education, policing, health services, taxation, and culture. They maintain their own civil service structures and police forces and participate in federal legislation and governance. The cantons vary widely in size and population. At the federal level, Swiss representation is organized to ensure cantonal interests through the Council of States, while direct democracy is common at cantonal level, with referendums and popular initiatives.

In France, cantons are administrative subdivisions of departments. They are primarily electoral districts for the election of departmental councilors and, in the past, served as unitary levels of administration. Since reforms in the 21st century, cantons have been redefined to balance population disparities, while the departmental councils remain the main elected authorities at that level.

Outside these systems, cantons appear in other countries as historical or niche administrative divisions or in land surveying and toponymy. In some places, the term survives in local geography or historic governance.

Overall, cantons illustrate how federal or decentralized systems organize regional governance and representation, balancing local autonomy with national unity.