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What is a Province?

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

A province is a geographic area, usually with some governance secondary to the governance of a central state or country. In many cases, a province is essentially the same as a state in many respects. The province may be run by a governor and may have some powers that are not decided by the country.

There are also times in which the therm province can also be used as merely an expression to define an area. For example, in France, anything outside of Paris would have been part of a province, hence the term provincial. Provinces in France now are likely to refer to regions of France rather than governmental structure.

A map of the provinces in China.
A map of the provinces in China.

A number of countries divide their area into provinces. Canada, for example, has provinces instead of states; it also has territories. Canada's ten provinces have more rights directly from the constitution, while the three territories get their power from the government. A territory has fewer "states rights" and must generally abide and not supersede the laws at the federal level.

A province in the Chinese countryside.
A province in the Chinese countryside.

As with state versus federal powers in the US, sometimes the rights of the province may be argued against the rights of the country. Depending on the country's constitution, any "residual powers" — those not specifically defined — may fall to the states or provinces, or to the central government. Which rights are residual and which are defined varies by country.

Canada has 10 provinces.
Canada has 10 provinces.

The checks and balances between the provincial and the federal government can and do create tensions. When certain powers are not defined for a province in the county's constitution, these residual powers can create conflict. In addition, there can be conflict between decisions made at a federal level and jurisdiction at the provincial level if the areas of power overlap.

Provinces in France now are likely to refer to regions of France rather than governmental structure.
Provinces in France now are likely to refer to regions of France rather than governmental structure.

Provinces are not exclusive to voting countries. The largest province in the world is in China, which is divided into 23 provinces, each led by a governor. The real power lies in the Committee belonging to the People's Republic of China. The governor of a province in China answers to the committee.

One of the exceptions to the rule in China is Taiwan, which is not administered by the People's Republic of China. It is the only province in China that is controlled by the Republic of China and solely administered by that republic instead of the central Chinese government.

Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent CulturalWorld contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

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Tricia Christensen
Tricia Christensen

Tricia has a Literature degree from Sonoma State University and has been a frequent CulturalWorld contributor for many years. She is especially passionate about reading and writing, although her other interests include medicine, art, film, history, politics, ethics, and religion. Tricia lives in Northern California and is currently working on her first novel.

Learn more...

Discussion Comments

lovealot

@Esther11 - I'll try to help you. Last year I took a class in Chinese history. China used to be all one country, but in the 1940's, they had a civil war and the country was divided into two countries.

The People's Republic of China is divided into 22 provinces. Each of these provinces has a Communist Party of China provincial committee, headed by a secretary. This secretary and the committee are in charge of each province. The governor of the provinces is not the boss. Hmm!

The Republic of China administers Taiwan and two small islands. I don't know how this government works.

The government of China seems very complicated.

Esther11

I'm a bit confused about how China is set up into provinces and how that government works. I know that provinces in Canada are much like states in the U.S. Both federal governments have some powers and provinces and states have other powers. Even though there are disagreements, there is a balance of power.

It must be much different in China. Can anyone explain?

anon52690

That is cool.

anon11379

Provinces in Canada are run by a Premier of the Province.

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    • A map of the provinces in China.
      By: gringos
      A map of the provinces in China.
    • A province in the Chinese countryside.
      By: michaklootwijk
      A province in the Chinese countryside.
    • Canada has 10 provinces.
      By: Anna
      Canada has 10 provinces.
    • Provinces in France now are likely to refer to regions of France rather than governmental structure.
      By: benkenogy
      Provinces in France now are likely to refer to regions of France rather than governmental structure.