Regional Council (France)

(incl. overseas regions)

(incl. overseas departments)

Urban communities
Agglomeration communities
Commune communities
Syndicates of New Agglomeration

Associated communes
Municipal arrondissements

Overseas collectivities
Sui generis collectivity
Overseas country
Overseas territory
Clipperton Island

A regional council (French: conseil régional) is the elected assembly of a region of France.

Regional councils were created by law on 5 July 1972. Originally they were simply consultative bodies consisting of the region's parliamentary representatives plus an equal number of members nominated by the departments and municipalities.

The decentralisation programme of 1982-1983 provided for direct election which began in 1986 and increased the powers of the councils.

The Assemblies elect their own Presidents who preside over the meetings and head the Regional Executive.

Between 1986 and 2004, regional councils were elected by closed list proportional representation. The Front National was frequently left with the balance of power as a result and this led to a change in the electoral law.