French Government

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French Government
Alex Hardee

• Alex Harde

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Separation of Powers

• Frances government is divided into an executive,
  legislative, and judicial branch, much like the
  U.S.
• The President appoints the Prime Minister, who
  must be approved by the lower house of
  parliament, the National Assembly.
• President-Jacques Chirac
• Prime Minister-Dominique de Villepin

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Constitution

• The current constitution was established by the
  Fifth French Republic in 1958 it greatly
  strengthened the executive branch.
• Does not contain a bill of rights, but the
  preamble states that France should follow the
  principles of Declaration of the Rights of Man
  and the Citizen, which include equality of
  citizens under the law, freedom of speech,
  freedom of religion, and the accountability of
  the government to the citizens.

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Key Figures
Jacques Chirac
Dominique de Villepin
Charles de Gaulle
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President (Chirac)

• Under the constitution, the President is elected
  by popular vote. A majority is thus required.
• If a Presidents opponents control Parliament,
  his powers are greatly reduced.
• Chirac has been President since 1995. He was
  reelected in 2000.

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P.M. (Villepin)

• The gouvernement is headed by the Prime minister.
  It is his private office, which includes civil
  service, the armed forces, and government
  agencies. Translationcabinet
• The Prime Minister may propose legislation for
  Parliaments approval, or he may issue decrees
  (i.e. executive orders) within certain
  constraints.
• Though appointed by the President, the Prime
  Minister has greater executive power.

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Ministries

• Similar to departments in the U.S., ministries
  split responsibility in the executive branch.
• Ministry of Economy, the Interior, Justice,
  National Education, Defense, Foreign Affairs, and
  Transportation.
• Each Ministry is divided into directions, which
  are each headed by a minister.

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Legislative Branch

• Parliament is divided between the National
  Assembly and the Senate, much like Congress in
  the U.S.
• Parliament meets for one 9-month session each
  year.
• The Senates powers are limited National
  Assembly has the last word in the event of a
  disagreement.

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Judiciary

• France has a Judiciary independent of the
  Legislative and Executive branches.
• It consists of courts, courts of appeal, and the
  Cour de Cassion is the most powerful court.
• Trial by jury is standard juries are drawn at
  random.

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The End