The Government of France

The French Republic is a united semi-presidential commonwealth with well-set democratic traditions. The constitution of the Fifth Republic was authorized by referendum on 28 September 1958. It greatly strengthened the authority of the administrator in respect to parliament. The executive branch itself bears two leaders: the President of the Republic, who is Head of State and is elected directly by comprehensive adult vote for a 5-year term, and the Government, headed by the president-appointed Prime Minister.

The French parliament is a two-chambered legislative assembly consisting a National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) and a Senate. The National Assembly deputies represent local constituencies and are directly elected for 5-year terms. The Assembly has the ability to dismiss the cabinet, and thus the majority in the Assembly regulates the selection of government. Senators are selected by an electoral college for 6-year terms, and half of the seats are stated to election every 3 years starting in September 2008. The Senate’s legislative powers are limited; in the outcome of disagreement between the two chambers, the National Assembly has the unalterable state, except for constitutional laws and laws that are directly provided for by the fundamental law, the lois organiques, in few cases. The government has a strong influence in forming the agenda of Parliament.

French political relation are characterised by two politically opposing groups: one left-wing, centred around the French Socialist Party, and the other right-wing, centred previously around the Rassemblement pour la République (RPR) and now its successor the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). The executive branch is presently composed generally of the UMP.