A diocese, from the Greek term διοίκησις, meaning "administration", is the district under the supervision of a bishop. It is also known as a bishopric. A diocese is divided into parishes (in the Church of England into benefices and parishes). This structure of church governance is known as episcopal polity.The word diocesan means relating or pertaining to a diocese. It can also be used as a noun meaning the bishop who has the principal supervision of a diocese.In the Latter Day Saint movement the term "bishopric" is used not of the ward or congregation of which a bishop has charge but instead of the bishop himself together with his two counsellors. On this see Bishop (Latter Day Saints).An archdiocese (or archiepiscopal see or archbishopric) is more significant than a diocese. An archdiocese is presided over by an archbishop whose see may have or have had importance due to size or historical significance. The archbishop may have metropolitan authority over any other suffragan bishops and their dioceses within his ecclesiastical province.Bishops (Greek: επίσκοπος, transliterated epískopos, which literally means overseers) claim apostolic succession; a direct historical lineage dating back to the original Twelve Apostles. A diocese also may be referred to as a bishopric or episcopal see, though strictly the term episcopal see refers to the domain of ecclesiastical authority officially held by the bishop, and the term bishopric to the post of being bishop.Especially in the Middle Ages, some bishops (e.g. prince-bishops) held political as well as religious authority within their dioceses, which in practice were thus also independent or semi-independent states.