The Senate has become a fragmented set of individual empires and political fiefdoms, with almost 300 committees and subcommittees.

Critics say many of the community school boards are little more than political fiefdoms that pay little attention to the issues of education.

But among many of New Jersey's Democratic county leaders, a hard-bitten lot who protect their political fiefdoms fiercely, Mr. Corzine is an unknown quantity whom many regard with suspicion and skepticism.

He called local zoning "a political fiefdom."

Guadeloupe is the larger, not least because its political fiefdom includes the nearby islands of St. Barthelemy, Marie-Galante,Desirade, Les Saintes and half of St. Martin.

Tradition of Independence The political importance this year of Chicago's lakefront areas lies in the fractured world of Chicago's political fiefdoms.

In the latest example, the Brooklyn District Attorney's office is now investigating charges that community school board members in District 21 created a political fiefdom based on cronyism, nepotism and patronage.

The third is that much of the country is carved into violent and intolerant political fiefdoms where, until order is imposed, there is little chance of an election being free and fair.

Mr. Marino long ago gave Mr. Stafford the Adirondacks as his political fiefdom.

When Vladimir Putin assumed the presidency two years ago, he moved quickly to break up the oligarchies and political fiefdoms within Russia.