Overseas department

The overseas departments and regions of France (French: départements et régions d'outre-mer, pronounced; DROM) are the five departments and regions of the French Republic which are located outside European France (also known as "Metropolitan France"). These overseas entities have exactly the same status as European France's departments and regions. The Constitution of France provides that, in general, French laws and regulations (France's civil code, penal code, administrative law, social laws, and tax laws) apply to French overseas departments and regions the same way as in metropolitan France, but can be adapted as needed to suit the region's particular needs. Hence, the local administrations of French overseas departments and regions cannot themselves pass new laws. On occasion, referendums are undertaken to re-assess the sentiment in local status.