* State: A political entity within a federation (like the United States) that has its own government and a degree of autonomy.
* Province: A similar administrative division, but more common in countries with a unitary system (like Canada).
Key Differences:
* Federal vs. Unitary: States are found in federal systems, where power is shared between the central government and the states. Provinces are found in unitary systems, where the central government holds most power.
* Autonomy: States generally have more autonomy than provinces, often with their own constitutions and independent legal systems.
* Terminology: "State" is more common in the US, while "province" is more common in Canada, Australia, and many other countries.
In some cases, the terms are interchangeable:
* Some countries use both "state" and "province" interchangeably, like in Mexico.
* In some historical contexts, "province" may be used to refer to any region under a central government, even if it's not a formal administrative division.
In summary, "state province" likely refers to any sub-national administrative division within a country, regardless of whether it's officially called a "state" or a "province."