A "Kreis" is a term used in Germany to refer to an administrative district or county. It serves as a local government area that manages various public services and administrative functions. Each Kreis is responsible for areas such as education, transportation, and public safety, and is typically governed by a district council. Kreise can be further divided into smaller units called Gemeinden, which are municipalities or towns. There are two main types of Kreise: Landkreise, which are rural districts, and kreisfreie Städte, which are independent cities that do not belong to any Landkreis.