I have read – in Wikipedia, I think, but I cannot seem to find anything there about it right now – that the European Union has worked out a consistent classification-system for different sub-national levels of government, so that British counties and parishes, French regions and departments, Swiss cantons, German lander, all would be labeled “L1” or “L2” or something like that. Anyone know anything about this?
Thanks! 
What about homeowner’s associations?
Those are a particularly (uniquely?) American phenomenon.
There are plenty of Residents’ Associations in the UK.
They’re nothing like homeowners’ associations. The latter are something approaching a fourth layer of government, with compulsory membership, the right to assess fees and fines, and so forth.