Country subdivision: Difference between revisions
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A '''country subdivision''' or a '''subdivision of a country'''<ref>[http://www.bbc.co.uk/travelnews/xml/loc/loc06.htm 29 October 2002, Timothy Hilgenberg, BBC]</ref> is a subdivision of a [[country]]'s territory. As such it can, apart from land-based territory also include [[territorial waters]]. |
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{{Unsourced|date=January 2011}} |
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[[Image:World administrative levels.png|thumb|right|260px|World administrative divisions]] |
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Subdivisions of a country's territory exist to support specific tasks. Local government, postal addressing, observance of official time, gathering information for census or votes in elections or arrangement of competitions are tasks for which countries are often subdivided into smaller parts. |
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'''Country subdivision''' refers to the division of a [[sovereign state]]'s territory for the sake of its [[local government|administration]], description or other such purpose. The resulting units of division are known generically as "country subdivisions". Unlike [[Geography|geographical]] or [[Geomorphology|geomorphological]] areas such as [[Drainage basin|basins]], [[desert]]s, [[valley]]s and the like, country subdivisions are abstract creations intended to make it easier to run the country. There are several types of country subdivisions, including: [[administrative division]]s, [[electoral division]]s, [[census division]]s, [[Regional development|development regions]], [[time zone]]s, etc. |
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==Comparison with other territorial arrangements== |
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==Administrative divisions== |
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A country subdivision is an abstract creation and distinct from a landform as studied in [[physical geography]], e.g. a [[Drainage basin|basin]], a [[desert]], a forest, a [[valley]]. Nevertheless, the border of a country subdivision can be influenced by physical characteristics of an area or also match the borders of a [[landform]] exactly. |
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{| class="wikitable" |
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! Type of area |
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! Abstraction |
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! Example |
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|- |
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| Group of countries |
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| abstract |
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| [[European Union]] |
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|- |
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| Country |
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| abstract |
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| [[Australia]] |
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|- |
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| Country subdivision |
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| abstract |
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| [[British Columbia]] |
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|- |
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| Landform |
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| non-abstract |
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| [[Atlantic Ocean]] |
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|} |
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==Amount and changes of tasks== |
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The amount of tasks performed within the borders of a specific country subdivision varies, e.g. the [[departments of France]] had been used not only as a basis for enacting laws but also car license plates, [[telephone numbers in France|telephone number prefixes]] and [[postal codes in France|postal code zones]] were based on the departmental borders. |
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Some entities also lose certain functions, e.g. the [[Traditional districts of Denmark]], have once been administrative but are now only used to identify location in some cases. A similar loss of functionality applies to the counties in England, now named [[ceremonial counties of England|ceremonial counties]]. |
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==Country subdivisions by type of task== |
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Specific tasks may include, administration, collection of information, coordination of observed time, arrangement of sport competitions etc. |
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===Administrative division=== |
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{{main|Administrative division}} |
{{main|Administrative division}} |
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[[Administrative division]] are used to directly administer or govern a specific territory, i.e. special laws for that territory may exist. |
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A few countries have administrative divisions that are themselves called "[[Division (country subdivision)|division]]" or "[[Subdivision (administrative division)|subdivision]]". |
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====ISO 3166-2==== |
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In [[ISO 3166-2]] (''Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions - Part 2: Country subdivision code'') the term "country subdivision" is used in the title of the standard. The text clarifies that ''ISO 3166-2 contains a complete breakdown into a '''relevant''' level of '''administrative''' subdivisions of all countries'' <ref>[http://www.iso.org/iso/country_codes/background_on_iso_3166/iso_3166-2.htm iso.org]</ref>, thus the standard only refers to a specific kind of country subdivisions. |
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===Census division=== |
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==Electoral and census divisions== |
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{{main |
{{main|Census division}} |
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Census divisions are divisions of a territory for the purpose to perform a [[census]], e.g. [[census geographic unit]]s, [[census metropolitan area]]s, and [[census subdivision]]. |
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In North America, "Census division" and "census subdivision" are themselves types of census divisions. |
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The second most common types of country subdivision are [[electoral division|electoral and]] [[census division]]s such as [[Constituency|constituencies]], [[Ward (electoral division)|wards]], [[census geographic unit]]s, [[census metropolitan area]]s, and [[census subdivision]]. Some countries, however, use these terms (or their native equivalents) to identify types of administrative division; for example, [[Namibia]]'s [[Constituencies of Namibia|constituencies]] or those countries listed in the article [[Ward (country subdivision)]]. In North America, "Census division" and "census subdivision" are themselves types of census divisions. |
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===Electoral division=== |
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==Other subdivision types== |
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{{main|Electoral district}} |
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Other types of country subdivision include [[statistical division]]s, [[judicial district]]s, [[police precinct]]s, [[Regional planning|planning or]] [[development region]]s, [[school district]]s, [[special-purpose district]]s, [[time zone]]s, [[transport region]]s, and [[water district]]s. |
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An electoral division is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body. Effectively it groups together the people that make up the [[constituency|body of eligible voters]] within a specific territory. |
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In some countries these terms or their native equivalents are used to identify types of administrative country subdivisions; for example, the [[constituencies of Namibia]]. The term [[Ward (country subdivision)|ward]] is used in both ways. |
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==ISO 3166-2== |
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According to the [[International Organization for Standardization|ISO]]'s website, [[ISO 3166-2]] (''Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions - Part 2: Country subdivision code'') uses the term "country subdivision" to denote "principal subdivisions (e.g. provinces or states)" [http://www.iso.org/iso/en/prods-services/iso3166ma/04background-on-iso-3166/what-is-iso3166.html]. |
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===Irrigation district=== |
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==Terms for heads of a country subdivision== |
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{{Main|Irrigation district}} |
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This is a partial list of terms used for various heads of country subdivisions around the globe. |
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===Judicial district=== |
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* [[Agha (Ottoman Empire)|Agha]] |
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{{Main|Legal district}} |
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* [[Chancellor]] |
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A [[legal district]] or judicial district denotes the territorial area for which a legal [[court (law)|court]] has [[jurisdiction]]. |
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* [[Emir]] |
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* [[Exarch]] |
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===Military district=== |
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* [[Governor]] |
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{{Main|Military district}} |
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* [[Marquess]] |
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Military districts are [[formation (military)|formation]]s of a state's armed forces which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and in countries with conscript forces, often handle parts of the conscription cycle. |
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* [[Mayor]] |
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* [[Mukhtar]] |
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[[Navies]] have also used a similar model, with organizations such as the [[United States naval districts]]. A number of navies in South America used naval districts at various points in time. |
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* [[Muhtar (title)]] |
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* [[Pasha]] |
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===Police district=== |
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* [[President]] |
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{{Main|Police division}} |
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* [[Sultan]] |
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* [[Tehsildar]]/ [[Talukdar]] |
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===Postal district=== |
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{{Main|Postal code}} |
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Some countries have [[postal code]] zones. In the UK there also existed [[postal counties]]. |
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===Sanitary district=== |
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{{Main|Sanitary district}} |
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===Sport district=== |
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Sport organizations sometimes create their own territorial groupings to arrange competitions. The territories can follow administrative subdivision boundaries, but can also create new regions, e.g. in Germany the [[Fußball-Regionalliga]] groups states together. In the British Isles, [[The Football Association]] groups England, a part of the [[United Kingdom]] with the three [[Crown dependencies]] of [[Jersey]], [[Guernsey]] and the [[Isle of Man]]. This grouping is not a territorial subdivision of a country. |
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===Telephone dialing prefix division=== |
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{{Main|Telephone numbering plan}} |
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Most countries have a geographic numbering plan included in their telephone numbering plan. |
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[[Area codes in the United States]] do not relate directly to administrative divisions. E.g. [[area code 207]] covers only area in the state of [[Maine]], while the reverse is not true, and some part of Maine is covered by a code mainly used in the neighboring country of Canada. |
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===Water district=== |
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{{Main|Water board}} |
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Some countries divide their territory to organize [[fresh water]] supply. |
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===Other types=== |
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Other types of country subdivision include [[statistical division]]s, [[Regional planning|planning or]] [[development region]]s, [[school district]]s, [[special-purpose district]]s, [[time zone]]s, and [[transport region]]s. |
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==See also== |
==See also== |
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* [[List of terms for administrative divisions]] |
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* [[Administrative division]] |
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** [[List of first-level administrative country subdivisions]] |
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** [[Table of administrative divisions by country]] |
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* [[Matrix of country subdivisions]] |
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* [[Political division]] (another name for "country") |
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* [[Politics of country subdivisions]] |
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* [[Supranationalism]] |
* [[Supranationalism]] |
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* [[Trade bloc]] |
* [[Trade bloc]] |
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* [[List of terms for heads of a country subdivision]] |
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== References == |
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{{reflist}} |
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{{Lists of country subdivisions}} |
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{{Types of administrative country subdivision}} |
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{{DEFAULTSORT:Country Subdivision}} |
{{DEFAULTSORT:Country Subdivision}} |
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[[Category:Country subdivisions| ]] |
[[Category:Country subdivisions| ]] |
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[[Category:Subdivisions by country| ]] |
[[Category:Subdivisions by country| ]] |
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[[Category:Human geography]] |
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Revision as of 06:25, 30 January 2011
An editor has nominated this article for deletion. You are welcome to participate in the deletion discussion, which will decide whether or not to retain it. |
A country subdivision or a subdivision of a country[1] is a subdivision of a country's territory. As such it can, apart from land-based territory also include territorial waters.
Subdivisions of a country's territory exist to support specific tasks. Local government, postal addressing, observance of official time, gathering information for census or votes in elections or arrangement of competitions are tasks for which countries are often subdivided into smaller parts.
Comparison with other territorial arrangements
A country subdivision is an abstract creation and distinct from a landform as studied in physical geography, e.g. a basin, a desert, a forest, a valley. Nevertheless, the border of a country subdivision can be influenced by physical characteristics of an area or also match the borders of a landform exactly.
| Type of area | Abstraction | Example |
|---|---|---|
| Group of countries | abstract | European Union |
| Country | abstract | Australia |
| Country subdivision | abstract | British Columbia |
| Landform | non-abstract | Atlantic Ocean |
Amount and changes of tasks
The amount of tasks performed within the borders of a specific country subdivision varies, e.g. the departments of France had been used not only as a basis for enacting laws but also car license plates, telephone number prefixes and postal code zones were based on the departmental borders.
Some entities also lose certain functions, e.g. the Traditional districts of Denmark, have once been administrative but are now only used to identify location in some cases. A similar loss of functionality applies to the counties in England, now named ceremonial counties.
Country subdivisions by type of task
Specific tasks may include, administration, collection of information, coordination of observed time, arrangement of sport competitions etc.
Administrative division
Administrative division are used to directly administer or govern a specific territory, i.e. special laws for that territory may exist.
A few countries have administrative divisions that are themselves called "division" or "subdivision".
ISO 3166-2
In ISO 3166-2 (Codes for the representation of names of countries and their subdivisions - Part 2: Country subdivision code) the term "country subdivision" is used in the title of the standard. The text clarifies that ISO 3166-2 contains a complete breakdown into a relevant level of administrative subdivisions of all countries [2], thus the standard only refers to a specific kind of country subdivisions.
Census division
Census divisions are divisions of a territory for the purpose to perform a census, e.g. census geographic units, census metropolitan areas, and census subdivision.
In North America, "Census division" and "census subdivision" are themselves types of census divisions.
Electoral division
An electoral division is a distinct territorial subdivision for holding a separate election for one or more seats in a legislative body. Effectively it groups together the people that make up the body of eligible voters within a specific territory.
In some countries these terms or their native equivalents are used to identify types of administrative country subdivisions; for example, the constituencies of Namibia. The term ward is used in both ways.
Irrigation district
Judicial district
A legal district or judicial district denotes the territorial area for which a legal court has jurisdiction.
Military district
Military districts are formations of a state's armed forces which are responsible for a certain area of territory. They are often more responsible for administrative than operational matters, and in countries with conscript forces, often handle parts of the conscription cycle.
Navies have also used a similar model, with organizations such as the United States naval districts. A number of navies in South America used naval districts at various points in time.
Police district
Postal district
Some countries have postal code zones. In the UK there also existed postal counties.
Sanitary district
Sport district
Sport organizations sometimes create their own territorial groupings to arrange competitions. The territories can follow administrative subdivision boundaries, but can also create new regions, e.g. in Germany the Fußball-Regionalliga groups states together. In the British Isles, The Football Association groups England, a part of the United Kingdom with the three Crown dependencies of Jersey, Guernsey and the Isle of Man. This grouping is not a territorial subdivision of a country.
Telephone dialing prefix division
Most countries have a geographic numbering plan included in their telephone numbering plan.
Area codes in the United States do not relate directly to administrative divisions. E.g. area code 207 covers only area in the state of Maine, while the reverse is not true, and some part of Maine is covered by a code mainly used in the neighboring country of Canada.
Water district
Some countries divide their territory to organize fresh water supply.
Other types
Other types of country subdivision include statistical divisions, planning or development regions, school districts, special-purpose districts, time zones, and transport regions.