Chile's 16 provinces constitute the country's primary administrative division at Level 1 of its three-tier territorial organization. Provinces serve as an intermediate governance layer between the national government and local municipalities, primarily functioning to coordinate regional policies and oversee the implementation of national programs within their boundaries. Each province is headed by a governor appointed by the President, who acts as the direct representative of the executive branch. The provincial administration manages matters related to public security, infrastructure coordination, and administrative services that require broader territorial scope than individual municipalities can provide. While provinces hold significant administrative authority, they operate with limited fiscal autonomy and primarily execute directives from the central government rather than exercising independent legislative powers. This structure reflects Chile's traditionally centralized governance model, where provinces function more as deconcentrated units of national administration than autonomous political entities.