Very good question.
France is currently reforming its administrative structure.
The central government is delegating powers to the local bodies. This transfer is called Décentralisation.
there are the Regions, the departements and the EPCI's (intercommunal bodies)
Each of them has its own power in matters of Housing, social affairs, education, employment ....
The central government keeps a power of control over them.
A debate is in course about the suppression of the departemental level.
The relationship is that the state government help in funding the local government
The system of government in which the central government holds all the power and delegates authority to local levels is known as a unitary system. In a unitary system, the central authority can create or abolish local governments and determine their powers. This contrasts with federal systems, where power is shared between the central and regional governments. Examples of unitary states include France and Japan.
Central government in Ireland is elected by the people, is based in Dublin and each member is known as a TD. Local government is elected in the local areas and the people elected are known as councillors. They do not sit in central government. Local government looks after local issues and central government looks after national issues and are involved in international issues.
Federalism is the form of government in which local governments must follow the direction of the central government.
A State governed as one single unit in which central government is supreme. The administrative divisions of the country can only excercise powers that the central government chooses to delegate
local level
Federalism is the form of government in which local governments must follow the direction of the central government.
the king and his council
Power is divided between a central and local government.
Federal government has the power. The power is what is divided in between central government and local government.
Unitary
A weak central government with most of the power at the state and local levels