The commune (town) is the smallest administrative subdivision in France and it is also the oldest, since it succeeded the towns and parishes of the Middle Ages. It was established in 1789 before experiencing the beginnings of autonomy with the law of April 5, 1884, a real municipal charter. The mayor is the executive of the municipality she or he represents and of which he manages the budget. The mayor is the employer of municipal staff and exercises local skills (schools, town planning, social action, roads, school transport, household waste collection, sanitation, etc.). The mayor is also a State agent for the functions of civil status, public order, the organization of elections and the issuance of regulatory titles. As of March 1, 2016, there were 35,973 communes, including 35,861 in metropolitan France.