Portugal's 20 districts constitute the primary administrative division at Level 1 of the country's two-tier system. Districts serve as territorial units for implementing central government policies and coordinating state services at the regional level. Each district is governed by a civil governor appointed by the national government, who oversees matters including civil protection, public order, and coordination between municipal authorities and central administration. Districts also function as electoral constituencies and statistical units for census data collection. While municipalities hold significant autonomy in local governance, districts provide an intermediate administrative layer that facilitates communication between the national government in Lisbon and Portugal's 308 municipalities, ensuring standardized delivery of public services across regions.