The chief of the department, the prefect, was the State's representative in each province, improved the administrative decisions of the central government, controlled the local authorities, led of the police and, differently from the republican era, had all the executive powers in its territory.
Departemangu juht, prefekt, oli riigi esindaja igas provintsis, kes parandas keskvalitsuse haldusotsuseid, kontrollis kohalikke võime, juhtis politseid ja erinevalt vabariigi ajast omas kogu täitevvõimu oma territooriumil.