Editing Prefectures in France (section)

{{short description|Governmental subdivision in France}}
[[File:Départements et régions de France - Noname-2016.svg|thumb|Map of the prefectures in France with their [[Institut national de la statistique et des études économiques|INSEE]] number]]
In [[France]], a '''prefecture''' ({{langx|fr|préfecture}}, {{IPA|fr|pʁefɛktyʁ|pron|LL-Q150 (fra)-WikiLucas00-préfecture.wav}}) may be:<ref>{{Cite web|last=|first=|title=Préfectures|url=http://www.interieur.gouv.fr/Le-ministere/Prefectures|access-date=2022-01-08|website=www.interieur.gouv.fr|language=fr-FR}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|title=Accueil {{!}} Les services de l'État en région|url=https://www.prefectures-regions.gouv.fr/|access-date=2022-01-08|website=www.prefectures-regions.gouv.fr}}</ref>
* the {{lang|fr|chef-lieu de département}}, the [[Communes of France|commune]] in which the administration of a [[Departments of France|department]] is located;
* the {{Lang|fr|chef-lieu de région}}, the commune in which the administration of a [[Regions of France|region]] is located;
* the jurisdiction of a prefecture;
* the official residence or headquarters of a [[Prefect (France)|prefect]].

Although the administration of departments and regions is distinct, a regional prefect is ''[[Ex officio member|ex officio]]'' prefect of the department in which the regional prefecture is located. The officeholder has authority upon the other prefects in the region on a range of matters.