Modelos administrativos comparados: EE. UU. y Francia

Summary

The document compares the administrative models of the United States and France. It explains the flexible, non-pyramidal Anglo-Saxon structure with unipersonal and collegial secretarial organs, and the unitary French state with its national, regional, departmental, district and municipal levels, including the roles of the Prime Minister, President, Councils of Ministers and the Ombudsperson.

Key points

The US administration is more flexible and lacks a rigid hierarchical pyramid.
US secretarial organs are unipersonal (e.g., the Presidency) or collegial (e.g., the Cabinet), depending on the number of individuals forming them.
US secretariats generally lack rule-making power, unlike French ministers.
France is a unitary state with a semi-presidential system where political power resides mainly at national level.
The French President appoints ministers on the advice of the Prime Minister and holds veto power over their removal.
France is divided into 18 regions, 100 departments, 334 districts (arrondissements) and approximately 36,600 municipalities (communes).

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Anglo-Saxon Administrative Model: USA

More flexible, without a rigid hierarchical pyramid structure.
Composed of various secretarial organs, which can be:
- Unipersonal (e.g., the Presidency)
- Collegial (e.g., the Cabinet)
The distinction lies in the number of individuals forming the organ.
These secretariats typically do not possess rule-making power, unlike ministers in the French model.
Peripheral Administration: Belongs to the national executive but exercises power only within a specific territory at its level.

French Administrative Model

France operates as a unitary state, where political power primarily resides at the national level, under a semi-presidential system.

National Level

Executive Branch: Comprises the Prime Minister (e.g., Édouard Philippe) and the President (e.g., Emmanuel Macron).
The Cabinet:
- Senior Ministers (also known as Ministers): An honorary rank.
- Junior Ministers (also known as):
  - Ministers of State (senior)
  - Secretary of State (junior)
Government of the French Republic: Composed of the Prime Minister and all Ministers.
Council of Ministers: Includes the President, Prime Minister, and senior ministers.
The President appoints ministers, typically under the advice of the Prime Minister, and holds veto power for their removal.
An increasing number of agencies exist, such as the Ombudsperson, who serves as a public advocate for reporting instances of maladministration.

Regional Level

Administrative Regions: Currently 18, each ruled by a Regional Council responsible for executing national decisions.
- 13 of the 18 regions are Metropolitan (mainland European regions).
- 5 of the 18 are overseas regions.
Departments: Currently 100, situated between the regional and local levels.
- Ruled by an administrative body called the General Council.
- 96 of the 100 are metropolitan departments.
- 4 of the 100 are overseas departments.
- The main city in each department is known as the Prefecture.
- This also constitutes peripheral administration.
Districts (Arrondissements): Currently 334.
- 12 of the 334 are overseas.
- The main city in each district is the Sub-Prefecture.

Municipalities / Communes

Approximately 36,600 municipalities.
Main Administrative Body: The City Council.
Private companies may sometimes participate with the administration to fulfill specific administrative tasks (e.g., street cleaning) through mechanisms like concessions or licenses.

FAQ

How does the US administrative model differ from the French one?

The US model is more flexible and has no rigid hierarchical pyramid, with secretarial organs that generally lack rule-making power. France is a unitary state where political power is concentrated at the national level under a semi-presidential system.

What is the difference between unipersonal and collegial organs in the US?

The distinction lies in the number of individuals forming the organ. A unipersonal organ, such as the Presidency, is led by one person, while a collegial organ, such as the Cabinet, is formed by several individuals.

How many administrative regions and departments does France have?

France currently has 18 administrative regions, 13 of them metropolitan and 5 overseas, and 100 departments, 96 metropolitan and 4 overseas.

What does the Ombudsperson do in France?

The Ombudsperson serves as a public advocate for reporting instances of maladministration.