California

====Counties====
{{See also|List of counties in California}}

California is divided into [[List of counties in California|58 counties]]. Per Article 11, Section 1, of the [[Constitution of California]], they are the legal subdivisions of the state. The county government provides countywide services such as [[Law enforcement in California|law enforcement]], [[List of California county jails|jails]], elections and voter registration, vital records, property assessment and records, tax collection, public health, health care, social services, libraries, flood control, fire protection, animal control, agricultural regulations, building inspections, ambulance services, and education departments in charge of maintaining statewide standards.<ref>{{Cite book |last=Baldassare |first=Mark |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=sDs4WZV0SRsC|page=67}} |title=When Government Fails: The Orange County Bankruptcy |date=1998 |publisher=[[Public Policy Institute of California]]/[[University of California Press]] |isbn=978-0-520-21486-6 |pages=67–68 |lccn=97032806}}</ref><ref>{{Cite book |last1=Janiskee |first1=Brian P. |url={{google books|plainurl=y|id=23Y3Nxs0qWgC|page=105}} |title=Democracy in California: Politics and Government in the Golden State |last2=Masugi |first2=Ken |date=2011 |publisher=Rowman & Littlefield Publishers |isbn=978-1-4422-0338-9 |edition=3rd |page=105 |lccn=2011007585}}</ref> In addition, the county serves as the local government for all [[unincorporated area]]s. Each county is governed by an elected [[board of supervisors]].{{sfn|Baldassare|1998|p=50}}