A territorial collectivity (, previously ), or territorial authority, is a chartered subdivision of France with recognized governing authority. It is the generic name for any subdivision (subnational entity) with an elective form of local government and local regulatory authority. The nature of a French territorial collectivity is set forth in Article 72 of the Constitution of France (1958), which provides for local autonomy within limits prescribed by law. Categories Regions: France has 18 regions, or 14 not including single territorial collectivities (collectivities with special status). Departments: France has 94 departments as territorial collectivities (most recently the merger of the territorial collectivities of Bas-Rhin and Haut-Rhin to form the European Collectivity of Alsace). However, the word is also used for the 101 territorial divisions of the State administration, which in most cases cover the same area as territorial collectivities. Collectivities with special status: this status is awarded by specific laws to 6 collectivities which replace departments and regions (Corsica, French Guiana, Greater Lyon, Martinique, Mayotte, and Paris). Overseas collectivities (, COM): France has five COMs. Provinces: There are 3 provinces, all in New Caledonia. Communes: There are 36,782 communes. They are found throughout the republic (except for Saint Barthélemy, Saint Martin, Wallis and Futuna, which are subdivided differently, as well as uninhabited Clipperton Island, which is directly administered by the office of the Prime Minister and the Minister of Overseas France). Other facts New Caledonia is the only French local government that is not a collectivité territoriale. It has its own articles in the French Constitution. Since it cannot be categorized, it is sometimes unofficially called a collectivité sui generis (although "collectivity" is not, strictly speaking, a legal category). It is also unofficially called a pays (d'outre-mer), because its local legislative assembly (the congress) can rule using its own lois du pays. New Caledonia voted in 2020 to reject independence and maintain its current status. Corsica became the first collectivité territoriale unique that is within metropolitan France starting on 1 January 2018, with new territorial elections held as a result. The régions are divided into départements: ROMs are divided into DOMs; New Caledonia is divided into provinces; départements, COMs (except Saint Barthélemy, Saint-Martin, and Wallis and Futuna), DOMs, and provinces all are divided into communes. The commune of Poya is the only French subdivision assigned to two upper-level units (the provinces of North and South). Paris and some overseas entities