Under the 1946 Constitution of the Fourth Republic, the French colonies of Guadeloupe, Martinique and French Guiana in the Caribbean and Réunion in the Indian Ocean became départements d'outre-mer (Overseas departments) or DOMs.
The status of DOMs differs from that of Territoire d'outre-mers (TOMs), but because of some common peculiarities, DOMs, TOMs and other overseas possessions with other statuses are often referred to as DOM/TOM.
Saint-Pierre and Miquelon became a DOM in 1976, but its status changed to that of a collectivité territoriale in 1985.
As integral parts of the French Republic, they are represented in the National Assembly, Senate and Economic and Social Council, elect a Member of the European Parliament (MEP), and also use the Euro as their currency.
Since 1982, following the French government's policy of decentralization, they have elected regional councils with powers similar to those of the régions of metropolitan France. As a result of a constitutional revision which occurred in 2003, these régions are now to be called régions d'outre-mer; indeed the new wording of the Constitution aims to give no precedence to either appelation département or région d'outre-mer, though the second one is still virtually unused by French media.
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