The French Institutional and Political System
Understand how French institutions work: the President of the Republic, the Government, Parliament, the Constitutional Council, and local authorities. An essential guide for Topic 2 of the civic exam.
The President of the Republic
The President of the Republic is the head of state and the keystone of the institutions of the Fifth Republic. The President is elected by direct universal suffrage for a 5-year term (the quinquennat, established by the 2000 referendum), renewable once. The election takes place in two rounds: if no candidate obtains an absolute majority in the first round, the two leading candidates face each other in the second round.
The President holds considerable powers, making France a semi-presidential system. The President appoints the Prime Minister and, on the Prime Minister's recommendation, the other members of the Government. The President chairs the Council of Ministers, promulgates laws, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and holds the power of pardon. The President can dissolve the National Assembly and submit a bill to referendum.
In the event of a serious crisis, Article 16 of the Constitution grants the President temporary emergency powers. The President also represents France abroad and negotiates international treaties. The President resides at the Elysee Palace in Paris, which has been the seat of the presidency since 1848.
The President holds considerable powers, making France a semi-presidential system. The President appoints the Prime Minister and, on the Prime Minister's recommendation, the other members of the Government. The President chairs the Council of Ministers, promulgates laws, is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and holds the power of pardon. The President can dissolve the National Assembly and submit a bill to referendum.
In the event of a serious crisis, Article 16 of the Constitution grants the President temporary emergency powers. The President also represents France abroad and negotiates international treaties. The President resides at the Elysee Palace in Paris, which has been the seat of the presidency since 1848.
The Government
The Government is led by the Prime Minister, appointed by the President of the Republic. It determines and conducts the policy of the Nation, in accordance with Article 20 of the Constitution. The Government is accountable to the National Assembly, which can overthrow it through a motion of censure. This dual accountability -- to the President and to Parliament -- is characteristic of the French semi-presidential system.
The Prime Minister directs the Government's actions, ensures the enforcement of laws, and exercises regulatory power. The Prime Minister can pledge the Government's responsibility before the National Assembly on a bill (Article 49, paragraph 3), which allows the bill to be adopted without a vote, unless a motion of censure is filed and adopted. The Government is headquartered at the Hotel de Matignon, the Prime Minister's official residence.
The Government consists of ministers, deputy ministers, and secretaries of state. Each minister is responsible for a specific area (Interior, Justice, Education, Finance, etc.) and heads a central administration. The number of ministers is not set by the Constitution and varies from one government to another. The Council of Ministers meets weekly at the Elysee Palace under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic.
The Prime Minister directs the Government's actions, ensures the enforcement of laws, and exercises regulatory power. The Prime Minister can pledge the Government's responsibility before the National Assembly on a bill (Article 49, paragraph 3), which allows the bill to be adopted without a vote, unless a motion of censure is filed and adopted. The Government is headquartered at the Hotel de Matignon, the Prime Minister's official residence.
The Government consists of ministers, deputy ministers, and secretaries of state. Each minister is responsible for a specific area (Interior, Justice, Education, Finance, etc.) and heads a central administration. The number of ministers is not set by the Constitution and varies from one government to another. The Council of Ministers meets weekly at the Elysee Palace under the chairmanship of the President of the Republic.
Parliament: the National Assembly and the Senate
The French Parliament is composed of two chambers, making it a bicameral parliament. The National Assembly sits at the Palais Bourbon and has 577 deputies, elected by direct universal suffrage for 5-year terms. The Senate sits at the Luxembourg Palace and has 348 senators, elected by indirect universal suffrage by a college of electors (mayors, municipal councillors, departmental and regional councillors) for 6-year terms, with half renewed every 3 years.
Parliament exercises two main functions: passing laws and overseeing Government action. A government bill (projet de loi) or a private member's bill (proposition de loi) is examined successively by both chambers. In case of persistent disagreement, the National Assembly has the final word, except for constitutional laws and organic laws relating to the Senate.
Government oversight is exercised through questions to the Government (broadcast live on television), committees of inquiry, and the ability of the National Assembly to vote a motion of censure. Parliament also votes on the State budget (finance law) and social security financing laws, giving it considerable budgetary power.
Parliament exercises two main functions: passing laws and overseeing Government action. A government bill (projet de loi) or a private member's bill (proposition de loi) is examined successively by both chambers. In case of persistent disagreement, the National Assembly has the final word, except for constitutional laws and organic laws relating to the Senate.
Government oversight is exercised through questions to the Government (broadcast live on television), committees of inquiry, and the ability of the National Assembly to vote a motion of censure. Parliament also votes on the State budget (finance law) and social security financing laws, giving it considerable budgetary power.
The Constitutional Council
The Constitutional Council is the institution responsible for ensuring that laws conform to the Constitution. Created in 1958, it is composed of 9 members appointed for a non-renewable 9-year term: 3 are appointed by the President of the Republic, 3 by the President of the National Assembly, and 3 by the President of the Senate. The Council is renewed by thirds every 3 years. Former Presidents of the Republic are members by right.
The Constitutional Council performs several essential functions. It reviews the constitutionality of laws before their promulgation, when referred to by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the president of either chamber, or 60 deputies or 60 senators. Since 2010, any litigant can also refer a matter through the priority question of constitutionality (QPC), if they believe that an existing law infringes on their fundamental rights and freedoms.
The Constitutional Council is also the judge of elections: it ensures the regularity of presidential elections and referendums, and rules on disputes in legislative and senatorial elections. It sits at the Palais-Royal in Paris. Its decisions are final and binding on all public authorities.
The Constitutional Council performs several essential functions. It reviews the constitutionality of laws before their promulgation, when referred to by the President of the Republic, the Prime Minister, the president of either chamber, or 60 deputies or 60 senators. Since 2010, any litigant can also refer a matter through the priority question of constitutionality (QPC), if they believe that an existing law infringes on their fundamental rights and freedoms.
The Constitutional Council is also the judge of elections: it ensures the regularity of presidential elections and referendums, and rules on disputes in legislative and senatorial elections. It sits at the Palais-Royal in Paris. Its decisions are final and binding on all public authorities.
Local authorities
France is a unitary decentralized state, organized into local authorities (collectivites territoriales) that have administrative and financial autonomy. The three levels of local authorities are the commune (municipality), the department, and the region. Each is administered by a deliberative assembly elected by universal suffrage and an executive elected by that assembly.
The commune is the basic level of local democracy. France has approximately 35,000 communes, each led by a mayor and a municipal council elected for 6-year terms. The commune manages civil registration, primary schools, urban planning, communal roads, and many local services. The department (101 in total, including 96 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas) is led by a departmental council. It manages social welfare, secondary schools (colleges), departmental roads, and school transportation.
The region (18 in total, including 13 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas) is led by a regional council. It is responsible for economic development, vocational training, high schools (lycees), regional transportation (TER), and territorial planning. The decentralization laws of 1982-1983 (Defferre laws) significantly strengthened the power of local authorities by transferring many responsibilities previously held by the central government.
The commune is the basic level of local democracy. France has approximately 35,000 communes, each led by a mayor and a municipal council elected for 6-year terms. The commune manages civil registration, primary schools, urban planning, communal roads, and many local services. The department (101 in total, including 96 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas) is led by a departmental council. It manages social welfare, secondary schools (colleges), departmental roads, and school transportation.
The region (18 in total, including 13 in metropolitan France and 5 overseas) is led by a regional council. It is responsible for economic development, vocational training, high schools (lycees), regional transportation (TER), and territorial planning. The decentralization laws of 1982-1983 (Defferre laws) significantly strengthened the power of local authorities by transferring many responsibilities previously held by the central government.
France and the European Union
France is one of the six founding members of European integration, alongside Germany, Italy, Belgium, the Netherlands, and Luxembourg. Since the Treaty of Rome in 1957, which established the European Economic Community (EEC), France has played a driving role in European integration, contributing to the creation of the single market, the common currency (the euro, adopted in 2002), and the main institutions of the Union.
The European Union today comprises 27 member states and is based on several main institutions. The European Parliament, elected by direct universal suffrage by European citizens (including French residents), passes European laws together with the Council of the European Union. The European Commission proposes laws and ensures their implementation. The European Council, which brings together heads of state and government, sets the Union's broad political directions.
For civic exam candidates, it is important to understand that European law applies directly in France and takes precedence over national law in the Union's areas of competence. European citizens residing in France have the right to vote in municipal and European elections. France is also a member of the Schengen Area, which allows free movement of people between signatory countries without border checks at internal borders.
The European Union today comprises 27 member states and is based on several main institutions. The European Parliament, elected by direct universal suffrage by European citizens (including French residents), passes European laws together with the Council of the European Union. The European Commission proposes laws and ensures their implementation. The European Council, which brings together heads of state and government, sets the Union's broad political directions.
For civic exam candidates, it is important to understand that European law applies directly in France and takes precedence over national law in the Union's areas of competence. European citizens residing in France have the right to vote in municipal and European elections. France is also a member of the Schengen Area, which allows free movement of people between signatory countries without border checks at internal borders.