Under the 1958 Constitution of the Fifth Republic, the overseas departments (départments d'outre mer or 'DOM') and overseas countries and territories (pays et territoires d'outre mer or 'PTOM') form integral parts of the French Republic. Until independence in 1962, Algeria formed a de facto part of France, with representation in the French Parliament. When the Comoro Islands in the Indian Ocean declared independence from France in 1975, the island of Mayotte chose to remain French, and acquired a new status, that of collectivité territoriale, again enjoying full integration with the French Republic, and having more autonomy than an overseas department, but less than an overseas territory. This status was granted to St Pierre et Miquelon in 1982.

Incidentally, the UN has backed the Comoro Islands' claim to Mayotte on the basis of 'territorial integrity'- just like Spain in the case of Gibraltar! However, the people of Mayotte wish to remain French, and seek the status of an overseas department. In 2001, they voted to become a collectivité départmentale, which went some way towards this.

French citizens in all the overseas possessions have full voting rights in presidential and legislative elections, electing deputies to the National Assembly, and also having representation in the Senate, which is indirectly elected by deputies and local councillors. They also have representation in the Economic and Social Council, and the European Parliament.

In 1982, as part of a move to greater decentralisation of power from Paris to the regions of France, the overseas departments (Guadeloupe, Martinique, French Guiana and Réunion) were granted powers comparable to those of the newly-formed regions of metropolitan France. In addition to an elected General Council, each overseas department also has a Regional Council.

The overseas territory of French Polynesia (including Tahiti) and the overseas country of New Caledonia each have a Territorial Assembly and Council of Ministers, with the French Government being represented by a High Commissioner. (In 1998, the status of New Caledonia changed from that of overseas territory to overseas country.)