Subdivisions of Switzerland difficulties maintaining the civil services they need to perform the duties they are required to do. In an effort to reduce expenses, many municipalities are combining together (through mergers or the creation of special-purpose districts). This restructuring is generally encouraged by the cantonal governments and the rate of these unions is increasing. "Cities" ("villes" or "Städte") are the municipalities with more than 10'000 inhabitants or smaller places which had medieval town rights. There is no specific designation for smaller communities such as "village" or "town". Some subdivisions that exist are: Subdivisions of Switzerland The Swiss Confederation comprises the 26 cantons
Cantons of France several smaller "communes". In the latter case, administrative services, the "gendarmerie" headquarters for example, are often situated in the principal town ("chef-lieu") of the "canton", although there are exceptions, such as "cantons" and , which have in common a "chief-town" which does not belong to either "canton". For statistical (INSEE) purposes, the twenty arrondissements of Paris – the administrative subdivisions of that city – are sometimes considered "cantons", but they serve no greater electoral function. "Cantons" also form legal districts, as seats of "Tribunaux d'instance" or "Courts of First Instance" (also, ""TI""...). Historically, the "cantons" are called "justices de paix"