prefecture

Prefecture is an administrative division used in several countries to describe a territorial unit that is typically governed or supervised by an official titled a prefect or by a similarly ranked governor. The exact powers and boundaries vary, but prefectures commonly sit between regions or provinces and municipalities, serving as the locus for national administration at a local level.

In France, the term préfecture denotes both the department capital and the office of the prefect, the representative of the central state within the department. Departments are the main mid-level administrative units, grouped into regions. The prefect coordinates state services, ensures public order, and oversees elections and civil administration within the department.

In Japan, a prefecture (ken, to, fu, or dō) is the top-level administrative division. Each has a governor and an elected assembly, with responsibilities ranging from education and transport to emergency management. Japan has 47 prefectures, which operate under national law and policy while administering local affairs.

In Italy, the prefettura is the government office representing the central state in a province. The prefect acts as liaison between the central administration and provincial authorities, coordinating national services and law enforcement. The provincial system lies between municipalities and regions, with varying degrees of local autonomy.

Other contexts use the term to describe similar local administrative seats or historical divisions, including translations of older Chinese hierarchies and other civil-law jurisdictions. Though the exact role of a prefecture varies, the common theme is a recognized administrative unit that preserves central-state oversight at the local level.