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
In France, cantons are administrative subdivisions of departments. They are primarily electoral districts for the election
Outside these systems, cantons appear in other countries as historical or niche administrative divisions or in
Overall, cantons illustrate how federal or decentralized systems organize regional governance and representation, balancing local autonomy