Prefectures of Lugida
| Prefecture Sefir | |
|---|---|
 | |
| Category | Unitary state |
| Location | Lugida |
| Number | 47 prefectures – 41 proper prefectures – 3 special prefectures – 2 urban prefectures – 1 capital prefecture |
| Populations | 616,194 (Sharjai) – 16,813,021 (Natlia) |
| Government | Governor Prefectural Parliament |
| Subdivisions | Municipality Capital ward (Natlia) |
The Prefectures of Lugida (Lithian: Sefir), sometimes known informally or in historical contexts as the domains of Lugida, consist of 47 prefectures which form the first-level administrative divisions of Lugida. Of these, 41 are proper prefectures, three are special prefectures (Gerupa, Lenthir, and Melon), two are urban prefectures (Hara and Tom), and one is a capital prefecture (Natlia). The system was established in 1869 by the then-newly established administration of the Republic of Lugida to replace the former Kingdom of Melunair's system of circuits and its subdivision domains, hence the term 'domain' for prefectures.
Prefectures are divided into municipalities including cities, towns, and in Natlia, capital wards. Governors and prefectural parliaments are elected in five-year terms. They have administrative, executive, and legislative authority within their prefectures' boundaries in respect to the central government of Lugida; the central government reserves the right to prevent a prefecture law from being enacted especially if the law contradicts higher-level laws such as a Ministerial Order, the National Code, and the Constitution. Special prefectures have greater autonomy. For example, they can enact prefectural laws that override higher-level laws except the Constitution and can designate an official regional language.
Background
Officially used to mean "prefecture" is the Lithian term sefir, derived from sek "below" and fira "state", thus literally meaning "subordinate of the state". Sefir is also used in Lithian to refer to other countries' first-level administrative divisions. Therefore the term may also be translated to "province" or "subdivision".
Prior to the formation of prefectures, the terms domains and circuits are used. Since 1386 during Forian Kingdom rule, the core territory is subdivided into four circuits – also known as 'swords' – and then into domains. Kingdom of Melunair used a similar system but with different terms. In their integration of now-southern Lugida in 1762 the kingdom adopted the Forian terminology of circuits and domains and redrew their borders. With the formation of the Republic, the administration in 1869 abolished the circuit borders and consolidated several formerly Melunairi domains. "Prefecture" (sefir) replaced "domain" (gant) as the official term for the subdivision, although the latter is still sometimes used as an informal term. The circuit borders now roughly delineate the six, unofficially designated regions of Lugida. Initially there are around 180 prefectures, all of which retained domain borders, and in 1874 the consolidation process is declared complete at 47 prefectures.
In the initial setting all prefectures but Natlia have the same status as "proper prefectures". This is acknowledged by the National Subdivisions Act enacted in 1875. Governments of two prefectures, Lenthir and Melon, requested greater autonomy of their prefectures on mainly cultural grounds. Hence, in 1928 the act was amended through the Local Autonomy Act to form the "special prefecture" designation for Lenthir and Melon prefectures, with Gerupa Prefecture following later in 1984 after a local referendum. Including the 1928 amendment, the National Subdivisions Act has been amended four times, including in 1961, 1975, and 2007, most of which concerns the prefectures' extant of administration and power.