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I - A
tradition
The British are attached to local organizations
which are human-scaled intermediaries between the central power of London and
themselves. However, since the Second World War, the financing of social aids
has been undertaken by the State itself (The Welfare State). And yet,
more subsidies means more control from the Civil Servants (fonctionnaires
du Gouvernement).
II - The main divisions
A - The County (le Comté)
It already existed at the time of
the Norman Kings under the form of Anglo-Saxon shires. (cf the names of
some counties nowadays : Lancashire, Yorkshire, Cambridgeshire etc...). County
level local authorities in the UK are usually responsible for running education,
emergency services, planning, transport, social services, and a number of other
functions. They may have many districts or consist of a single authority.
=>
See the counties of
Great Britain
=> See the counties of the United
Kingdom
Warning : Don't mix up Great Britain and The United Kingdom :
- Great Britain is the
term used for the island containing the contiguous nations of England,
Scotland and Wales.
-
- Great Britain is used to distinguish Britain from
Brittania Minor, or Brittany, in France.
-
- The term "Great Britain" was officially
used only after King James I (who was also James VI of Scotland) acceded to the
throne of England and Wales in 1603, styling himself King of Great Britain,
although legislative union between Scotland and England did not take place until
1707.
England, Scotland and
Wales together with the province of Northern Ireland, form the
country officially known as "The United Kingdom".
The United Kingdom came
into being in 1801 following the Irish Union, although the greater part of
Ireland gained independence in 1921 to form the Irish Republic (or Eire).
The majority of the people in Northern Ireland have wished to remain part of the
U.K., although a minority wish unification with the Irish Republic.
The county is headed by
the County Council, which is made up of Councillors (élus locaux)
: one representative for each constituency (circonscription). The
councillor supervises local authorities and manages the Civil Service
(l'administration) (finance, Health, education, accomodation etc...).
B - The District
Each county is divided into urban
or rural districts, administered by a District Council which cares for health,
local taxes, the police, the fire brigade, road/rails and waterways networks,
etc...
C - The Parish (la
paroisse)
The smallest division represents
the village. Each parish sends a councillor into the District Council it is part
of. The Parish Council has very few functions left today.
D
- The Borough (le bourg)
It is a very ancient
division which goes back to Middle Ages. At this time, academic cities (Oxford,
Cambridge), archbishops' palaces (York, Canterbury...) had obtained through a
charter special rights and the title of borough. Since the 1974 reform,
the autonomy of these privileged cities has disappeared.
E - London
The City of London is headed by a
Mayor (The Lord Mayor) and his councillors. Today, the City is
above all a business area : banks and shipowners (armateurs) have their
headquarters there.
The Greater London
Council (GLC) was established in 1964 to administer London and its suburbs,
coordinate and manage the urban growth. Threatened by dismantling in 1984 (blow
dealt by Mrs Thatcher to the Labour Party members who were influential in this
Council), it was supported by a huge campain : Save the GLC, but the
latter didn't come off (aboutir) and the GLC was abolished.
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