France arrondissements, which are, in turn, subdivided into 2,054 cantons. These cantons are then divided into 36,658 communes, which are municipalities with an elected municipal council. Three communes—Paris, Lyon and Marseille—are subdivided into 45 municipal arrondissements. The regions, departments and communes are all known as territorial collectivities, meaning they possess local assemblies as well as an executive. Arrondissements and cantons are merely administrative divisions. However, this was not always the case. Until 1940, the arrondissements were territorial collectivities with an elected assembly, but these were suspended by the Vichy regime and definitely abolished by the Fourth Republic in 1946. In addition
Administrative divisions of Moscow established. Sevastopolsky District was split off Sovetsky and Cheryomushkinsky Districts, whereas Zheleznodorozhny District was split off Kirovsky and Timiryazevsky Districts. In 1984, a number of localities which previously belonged to Moscow Oblast were appended to Moscow. In particular, the town of Solntsevo was transferred to Moscow, and Solntsevsky District was established. Administrative divisions of Moscow The federal city of Moscow, Russia is divided into twelve administrative okrugs, which are in turn subdivided into districts (raions). The city does not have a downtown area; the urban core is scattered across the city. Prominent business areas include Tverskoy, Arbat, and Presnensky Districts