General councils (France)

The departmental councils (French: conseil départemental [sing.], conseils départementaux [plur.]) of France are assemblies of the departments. Elected by universal suffrage, they were called general councils (conseil général [sing.], conseils généraux [plur.]) prior to March 2015.

The law of 22 December 1789 required the establishment of an assembly in each department, known as the council of the department. This law was repealed on 4 December 1793; it was restored as the "law on the division of the territory of the Republic and its administration" on 17 February 1800, in which, "General Council of the departments" were formed. At this time, the name "General Council" was also used by town and district councils.

The members of the general council were not elected by suffrage until 1833; they were elected by universal suffrage from 3 July 1848. The first female president of a department council was Évelyne Baylet of Tarn-et-Garonne council. Until the law of decentralisation on 2 March 1982, the department prefect also served as the department's state representative and the department executive; since 1982, the president of the council is the department's executive body. Law 175 of 26 February 2008 means that there must be at least a single candidate of each gender in a department council election.

The president of a department council has a maximum allowance of €5441 per month, the vice-presidents has a maximum allowance of €128.83-725.44, members of the standing committee have maximum allowances of €672.65-927.13, and departmental advisors have maximum allowances of €1501-2,626 per month.

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