Government

France is a parliamentary democracy with a national government. The current government, called the Fifth Republic, has been around since 1958, when its constitution was adopted. The government combines elements of the presidential and parliamentary systems.

France’s national government has three branches: an executive branch headed by a President and a Prime Minister, a legislative branch consisting of Parliament and a judicial branch, or system of courts.

The President is the head of state and, along with the prime minister, holds executive authority. Other major responsibilities include acting as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, being a member of the Constitutional Council, managing the countries foreign affairs, and presiding over the cabinet ministers. The president is elected by an absolute majority of votes, cast by direct universal suffrage, and is eligible for reelection. Up until the 1995 election, presidents were elected for a seven-year term. Beginning in 2002, presidents serve a five-year term.

The president appoints the prime minister and the council of ministers and has the power to dissolve the national assembly (the lower house of parliament) and the right to assume virtually dictatorial powers in the event of national emergency. The president has no power of veto, but may ask parliament to reconsider a bill or may submit certain bills to a national referendum. The president negotiates and ratifies treaties, signs government decrees, and makes military appointments.

Although appointed by the president, the prime minister is responsible only to the national assembly. The prime minister directs the operation of the government and advises the president. Assisted by other cabinet ministers, the prime minister formulates national policy, executes the laws, and is responsible for national defense. The prime minister may introduce bills in parliament and may take legislative action in financial matters if parliament is unable to reach a decision on finance bills. The government, made up of the prime minister and cabinet, can be forced to resign only when a motion of censure is passed by a majority of the national assembly.

The parliament consists of two houses: the national assembly, whose members are elected by direct vote to five-year terms, and the senate, whose members are indirectly elected to nine-year terms. One-third of the senate is chosen every three years. Overseas departments and territories are represented in both houses. The president of the senate succeeds to the national presidency if it becomes vacant, remaining in office until new elections can be held.

Parliament's legislative powers are limited to certain matters specified by the constitution. Other legislative matters are handled by government decree. Parliament, however, may broaden its powers by passing organic laws (which alter the constitution). Both chambers can initiate legislation, except that financial and organic legislation cannot originate in the senate.

If there is a disagreement between the two houses, the prime minister may ask the national assembly to give the final ruling. Parliament has the authority to declare war. Sessions of parliament are limited to two a year, totaling not more than five and one-half months in duration. Special sessions may be called by the prime minister or by a majority of the national assembly.

The basic unit of local government in France is the Commune. In total, there are about 36,500 communes in France, which vary in size from small villages to large cities. Each commune is governed by a mayor and a local council. Mainland France (France proper and the island of Corsica) is divided into 96 metropolitan departments, each with an appointed commissioner, who represents the central government, and is elected by the general council. The departments are grouped into 22 administrative regions. Each region has a regional council, elected by the people, and a president, who is elected by the council members. For administrative purposes, each department is divided into districts, or arrondissements, which are further divided into cantons. The commune is the smallest unit of local government. It may vary in size from a small village to a large town or city. Each commune is governed by an elected municipal council, presided over by a mayor.

France has about 9 inhabited overseas territories, which are remnants of its colonial past. Guadeloupe and Martinique, both in the West Indies; Reunion and Mayotte, both in the Indian Ocean; New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands, all in the South Pacific Ocean; French Guiana in South America; and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic Ocean constitute these 9 and are considered integral parts of France as they vote to choose France’s President and send representatives to both houses of parliament.

France has several political parties with the leading one being the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). Several conservative parties, including the Rally for the Republic and the Union for French Democracy merged to form it. It supports a strong national government, independent foreign policy, free-market policies and reducing government regulation of business.

Another leading party is the extremely conservative National Party. It opposes immigration and favors the death penalty. The National Republican Movement, which is another party which split from it, is known to hold similar views. The Socialist Party and the French Communist Party are known to hold liberal or radical views. Both, in theory at least, support public ownership or control of most of the nation's factories, machines, and other basic means of production and strong, government-financed social security and medical benefits. However, both have been known to co-operate with the private sector.

Traditionally, men have come to dominate French politics. However, in 2001, a law was passed by Parliament requiring political parties to nominate as many women as men, as candidates in most elections.

The judicial system is divided into two sections. Ordinary courts handle civil and criminal cases, and administrative courts handle cases concerning the government. Appeals for civil and criminal cases may be taken to Courts of Appeal. The Courts of Assizes hear cases relating to violent and serious crimes. The decisions of both these courts are final. The Court of Cassation, which is the the highest court in France, may review matters from most courts. It can return cases to the lower courts for new trials.

The president of the republic presides over the High Council of the Judiciary, a disciplinary body for magistrates (judges). A minister of Justice controls the appointment and removal of Judges. Magistrates, however, may not be removed from office. They usually serve for life.

The council oversees national elections and referendums and examines the constitutionality of laws and government decrees. Its decisions cannot be appealed. Former presidents are life members and nine other members are appointed by the president and the parliament for nine-year terms.

The president of the republic is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Defense policy is carried out by the minister of defense, who is under the authority of the prime minister. The armed forces consist of an army, navy, and air force, which have a combined strength of 400,000 men and women. Military service in France is voluntary.