The administrative division or territorial organization of Chile exemplifies characteristics of a unitary state. State administration is functionally and geographically decentralized, as appropriate for each authority in accordance with the law.
For the interior government and administration within the State, the territory of the republic has been divided into 16 regions (regiones), 56 provinces (provincias) and 346 communes (comunas) since the 1970s process of reform, made at the request of the National Commission on Administrative Reform (Comisión Nacional de la Reforma Administrativa or CONARA). State agencies exist to promote the strengthening of its regionalization, equitable development and solidarity between regions, provinces and communes within the nation.
Since 2005, the creation, abolition and designation of regions, provinces and communes, the altering of their boundaries, and the establishment of the regional and provincial capitals are part of constitutional law.
The Ministries of Chile (except the Ministries of the Interior, National Defense, Foreign Affairs and Secretary General of the Presidency) are devolved to regional level, being represented by regional ministries, integrating the so-called "regional cabinet," chaired by the regional intendent.
History
The political and administrative division of Chile has had four major periods: before 1833, from 1833 to 1925, from 1925 to 1976 and from 1976 onwards.
Before 1974, Chile was divided into: Provinces (provincias) - First level Departments (departamentos) - Second level
In October 2007, two new regions came into force: The I Tarapacá Region was divided laterally to create XV Arica and Parinacota Region to the north, and similarly, the X Los Lagos Region was split to create XIV Los Ríos Region to its north. Also there are plans to create a joint region between the provinces of Linares and Cauquenes by splitting the VII Maule Region.
On March 11, 2010, the creation of the Marga Marga Province gave Chile a new total of 56 provinces.
Current structure
Chile is administratively divided into:
16 Regions (regiones) - First level administrative division 56 Provinces (provincias) - Second level administrative division 346 Communes (comunas) - Third level administrative division
Regions
The regional government is headed by a popularly elected governor and a regional presidential delegation, who represents the President of Chile in the region.
Provinces
The government and administration of each province lies in the provincial governorate (Gobernación Provincial), headed by a governor (gobernador), appointed by the President of the Republic. It exercises its powers in accordance with the instructions from the regional intendant. It is advised by the Provincial Economic and Social Council (Consejo Económico y Social Provincial or CESPRO).
The only exception is the Santiago Province, which makes no provision for a provincial governorate in its regulations. Instead, the position corresponds to the intendant of the Metropolitan Region of Santiago. In January 2001, the Provincial Delegation of Santiago was created with the position of a Provincial Delegate, who exercises the functions of a provincial governor on behalf of the respective intendant.
Municipalities
The local administration of each commune or group of communities resides in the municipality (municipalidad), consisting of an alcalde and a communal council (Consejo Comunal), elected directly for a period of 4 years renewable.
Municipalities represent the decentralization of central power. They are advised by an Economic and Social Communal Council (Consejo Económico y Social Comunal or CESCO), composed of representatives from the most important of the community's organizations and activities.
There are 346 communes and 345 municipalities, as the municipality of Cabo de Hornos manages the grouping of communities of Cape Horn and Antártica. There are proposals to create a number of new communities to be studied by the Secretariat of Regional and Administrative Development (Subsecretaría de Desarrollo Regional y Administrativo or SUBDERE).
Current list of administrative divisions Region Capital Provinces Capital Communes Arica and Parinacota Region Arica Arica Arica Arica CamaronesParinacotaPutreGeneral Lagos Putre Tarapacá Region Iquique El Tamarugal Pozo Almonte Camiña Colchane Huara Pica Pozo Almonte Iquique Iquique Iquique Alto Hospicio Antofagasta Region Antofagasta Tocopilla Tocopilla María Elena Tocopilla El Loa Calama Calama Ollagüe San Pedro de Atacama Antofagasta Antofagasta Antofagasta Mejillones Sierra Gorda TaltalAtacama RegionCopiapó Chañaral Chañaral Chañaral Diego de Almagro Copiapó Copiapó Copiapó Caldera Tierra Amarilla Huasco Vallenar Vallenar Freirina Huasco Alto del CarmenCoquimbo RegionLa Serena Elqui Coquimbo Andacollo Coquimbo La Higuera La Serena Paiguano Vicuña Limarí Ovalle Ovalle Río Hurtado Monte Patria Combarbalá Punitaqui Choapa Illapel Illapel Salamanca Los Vilos Canela Valparaíso Region Valparaíso Petorca La Ligua La Ligua Cabildo Zapallar Papudo Petorca Los Andes Los Andes Los Andes San Esteban Calle Larga Rinconada San Felipe de Aconcagua San Felipe San Felipe Llaillay Putaendo Santa María Catemu Panquehue Quillota Quillota Quillota La Calera Nogales Hijuelas La Cruz Valparaíso Valparaíso Valparaíso Viña del Mar Concón Quintero Puchuncaví Casablanca Juan Fernández Marga Marga Quilpué Quilpué Limache Olmué Villa Alemana San Antonio San Antonio Algarrobo El Quisco El Tabo Cartagena San Antonio Santo Domingo Isla de Pascua Hanga Roa Isla de PascuaRegión del Libertador General Bernardo O'Higgins Rancagua Cachapoal Rancagua Codegua Coínco Coltauco Doñihue Graneros Las Cabras Machalí Malloa Olivar Peumo Pichidegua Quinta de Tilcoco Rancagua Requínoa Rengo Mostazal San Vicente de Tagua TaguaColchaguaSan Fernando Chépica Chimbarongo Lolol Nancagua Palmilla Peralillo Placilla Pumanque San Fernando Santa Cruz Cardenal Caro Pichilemu La Estrella Litueche Marchigüe Navidad Paredones Pichilemu Maule Region Talca Curicó Curicó Curicó Hualañé Licantén Molina Rauco Romeral Sagrada Familia, Chile Teno Vichuquén Talca Talca Talca San Clemente Pelarco Pencahue Maule San Rafael Curepto Constitución Empedrado Río Claro Linares Linares Linares San Javier de Loncomilla Parral Villa Alegre Longaví Colbún Retiro Yerbas Buenas Cauquenes Cauquenes Cauquenes Chanco Pelluhue Ñuble Region Chillán Itata Quirihue Cobquecura Coelemu Ninhue Portezuelo Quirihue Ránquil Treguaco Diguillín Bulnes Bulnes Chillán Chillán Viejo El Carmen Pemuco Pinto Quillón San Ignacio Yungay Punilla San Carlos Coihueco Ñiquén San Carlos San Fabián San Nicolás Biobío Region Concepción Biobío Los Ángeles Alto Biobío Antuco Cabrero Laja Los Ángeles Mulchén Nacimiento Negrete Quilaco Quilleco San Rosendo Santa Bárbara Tucapel Yumbel Concepción Concepción Concepción Coronel Chiguayante Florida Hualpén Hualqui Lota Penco San Pedro de la Paz Santa Juana Talcahuano Tomé Arauco Lebu Arauco Cañete Contulmo Curanilahue Lebu Los Álamos TirúaAraucanía Region Temuco Malleco Angol Angol Collipulli Curacautín Ercilla Lonquimay Los Sauces Lumaco Purén Renaico Traiguén Victoria Cautín Temuco Temuco Carahue Cholchol Cunco Curarrehue Freire Galvarino Gorbea Lautaro Loncoche Melipeuco Nueva Imperial Padre Las Casas Perquenco Pitrufquén Pucón Saavedra Teodoro Schmidt Toltén Vilcún Villarrica Los Ríos Region Valdivia Valdivia Valdivia Valdivia Corral Lanco Los Lagos Mariquina Máfil Paillaco Panguipulli Ranco La Unión La Unión Futrono Lago Ranco Río Bueno Los Lagos Region Puerto Montt Osorno Osorno Osorno Puerto Octay Purranque Puyehue Río Negro San Pablo San Juan de la Costa Llanquihue Puerto Montt Calbuco Cochamó Fresia Frutillar Llanquihue Los Muermos Maullín Puerto Montt Puerto Varas Chiloé Castro Ancud Castro Chonchi Curaco de Vélez Dalcahue Puqueldón Queilén Quellón Quemchi Quinchao Palena Chaitén Futaleufú Hualaihué PalenaAysén del General Carlos Ibáñez del Campo RegionCoihaique Coihaique Coihaique Coihaique Lago Verde Aisén Puerto Aisén Aisén Cisnes Guaitecas General Carrera Chile Chico Chile Chico Río Ibáñez Capitán Prat Cochrane Cochrane O'Higgins Tortel Magallanes and Antártica Chilena Region Punta Arenas Última Esperanza Puerto Natales Puerto Natales Torres del Paine Magallanes Punta Arenas Laguna Blanca Punta Arenas Río Verde San Gregorio Tierra del Fuego Porvenir Porvenir Primavera Timaukel Antártica Chilena Puerto Williams Cabo de Hornos AntárticaSantiago Metropolitan Region (RM)Santiago Chacabuco Colina Colina Lampa Tiltil Cordillera Puente Alto Puente Alto San José de Maipo Pirque Maipo San Bernardo San Bernardo Buin Paine Calera de Tango Talagante Talagante Isla de Maipo El Monte Padre Hurtado Peñaflor Talagante Melipilla Melipilla Curacaví María Pinto Melipilla San Pedro Alhué Santiago Santiago Cerrillos Cerro Navia Conchalí El Bosque Estación Central Huechuraba Independencia La Cisterna La Granja La Florida La Pintana La Reina Las Condes Lo Barnechea Lo Espejo Lo Prado Macul Maipú Ñuñoa Pedro Aguirre Cerda Peñalolén Providencia Pudahuel Quilicura Quinta Normal Recoleta Renca San Miguel San Joaquín San Ramón Santiago Vitacura
Proposed structural changes SUBDERE continues to examine the proposed creation of the provinces of Villarrica, San Carlos, Admiral Simpson, Aconcagua and others.
References