The Regions of Niger are subdivided into 63 Departments (French: départements). Before the devolution program on 1999-2005, these Departments were styled arrondissements. Confusingly, the next level up (Regions) had, before 2002-2005 been styled Departments. Prior to a revision in 2011, there had been 36 Departments. A draft law in August 2011 would expand that number to 63. Until 2010, Arrondissements remained a proposed subdivision of Departments, though none were used. The decentralisation process, begun in the 1995-1999 period replaced appointed Prefects at Departmental/Arrondisement level with elected councils, first elected in 1999. These were the first local elections held in the history of Niger. Officials elected at Commune level are then selected as representatives at Department