Politics - FRANCE= The Vth Republic

The presidents since the First Republic 1792 (see History survey)  

The Constitution & Institutions

The French political system is special in two ways. It is neither a parliamentary system like the British one, where the executive emerges from Parliament, nor a system of separation of powers like the American one, where the President must take account of Congress: the French Fifth Republic is a hybrid system.

·         Overall description: http://about-france.com/political-system.htm

·         Details: http://www.gouvernement.fr/en/how-government-works

·         http://www.gouvernement.fr/

http://www.frenchculture.org/

I. The Executive branch
http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/therese.saintpaul/boule_bleue_brillante.gifThe President: attention! In France, the president is not the Government!! (See Definitions: government/ president/ parliament)
He has a right to propose and veto bills and arbitrates between Government and Parliament.

http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/therese.saintpaul/boule_bleue_brillante.gifThe Government:   a-Prime Minister        b-Council of Ministers

President of the Republic
The Head of State is elected for a five-year term by direct universal suffrage. François Hollande became the seventh President of the Fifth Republic on May 6, 2012. The President of the Republic appoints the Prime Minister and, on the latter's recommendation, appoints the other members of the Government (article 8 of the Constitution). He presides over the Council of Ministers, promulgates Acts of Parliament and is Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces. He may dissolve the National Assembly and in an emergency exercise special powers (article 16).

Prime Minister and government

Under the direction of the Prime Minister, the government sets national policy and carries it out. It is answerable to Parliament (article 20). The Prime Minister directs the operation of the government and ensures the implementation of legislation (article 21). Manuel Valls, Prime Minister [Socialist Group: Diverse left, radical parties since 1997 to 2012]. http://www.gouvernement.fr/en/prime-minister

 

II. The legislative branch
http://campus.murraystate.edu/academic/faculty/therese.saintpaul/boule_bleue_brillante.gifThe Parliament: The French Parliament consists of two assemblies, the National Assembly and the Senate. They sit in two distinct premises (the National Assembly in the Palais Bourbon and the Senate in the Palais du Luxembourg). M.P.s and Senators are national representatives: regardless of the constituency where they are elected, they each represent the entire nation.

Audio guide

 http://www2.assemblee-nationale.fr/langues/welcome-to-the-english-website-of-the-french-national-assembly

http://www.elections-legislatives.fr/en/home.asp

a. National Assembly, 577 Deputies from French administrative 96 +4 “departments”

b. Senate:   331 senators for 6 years, from 22+4 French Regions.

III. The Councils-The Constitutional Council and other councils


IV. The Judicial System: Independent judiciary system (public or private law) http://about-france.com/french-legal-system.htm

At the time of the French Revolution, the law of 1790 laid down the principle of the separation of administrative and judicial authorities: judicial courts were prohibited from dealing with administrative matters. There are two types of courts:

: Ordinary (district courts) or specialised (subdistrict courts, commercial courts, social security courts and industrial tribunals for disputes between employees and employers).  2-Criminal courts (Minor offences, tried by police courts. Major or technical offences, tried by criminal courts. Serious crimes, tried by the Assise Court).

 

There is also a special court, the Juvenile Court for both civil and criminal cases. 

Questions:

1 What is the starting date of "The Fifth Republic?" (System of governance in France today).Explain what is specific to this system of governance? Compare w/ USA
The French system is not quite like the presidential system in the USA nor is it like the Parliamentary system found in GB or Canada.
{Check sites above and compare the ways power is attributed and limited in France and the USA:
USA executive
USA legislative/ judiciary
USA Declaration of Independance]

2. What are the 3 principles (motto) of the French Constitution? (Browse through web links above)

3. The French Constitution and the US constitution: what strikes you? Any differences?
USA text
USA Bill of Rights

4 What are the founding texts of the French Republic?

5 What causes a Republic to change in France?

6 What are the colors of the French Flag?

7 What are the institutions of the Fifth republic?  (5 componants)

8. What is referred to by term “Government" in France (difference w/ USA)?

9. Does the French President have legislative or executive powers?

10.Name the President and the Prime Minister.

 What is the French Parliament composed of? _____________________+ ____________________

11 How long is the French President's mandate?

12. Who resides at the Elysee Palace? Who resides at the Hotel Matignon?

13. What is the role of the Constitutional Council?

14. Why do the French separate two Judiciary systems?   Can you compare with the US system?

15. Do you think that the French President has more or less individual power in the government than the USA President? Justify your answer.

 

French political system at glance

Source: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs (2008), France, La documentation française, Paris, p.52, ISBN: 978-2-11-0066963-4