THE LEGISLATURE

THE LEGISLATURE

THE LEGISLATURE

The French legislature is bicameral, the upper house being the Senate, and the lower house the National Assembly.

THE SENATE

Like most bicameral legislatures, the French Senate has had little direct decision-making power since its creation by the 1958 constitution. The Senate was created to represent territorial subunits (like states in the United States), and to provide stability to the historically volatile, chaotic National Assembly. The 316 senators are selected by a huge electoral college made up of deputies, small-town mayors, and regional officials. As a result, small town, rural interests are over-represented. Senators serve for nine year terms, and their policy-making powers are limited primarily because a simple majority in the National Assembly may override any objections that senators have to their bills. Still, particularly in recent years, the Senate has criticized and amended legislation, and the government generally listens to it regarding farm policy. Highly publicized farmers' protests have almost certainly enhanced the Senate's power.

THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY

Historically, the National Assembly is the powerful legislative body that represents the will of the people. It was formed during the French Revolution, and it has endured through all of the governments that France has had since then. During the Third and Fourth Republics, the National Assembly held the most important policy making power and regularly overturned governments that did not follow their wishes. By and large, this created a chaotic, quarrelsome body in which parties seldom agreed on anything, bringing about immobilisme, or the tendency to get nothing done. The Constitution of 1958 reduced the power of the Assembly by creating the presidency, and by taking away its ability to form a cabinet. Today, policy-making power lies with the president, prime minister, and the cabinet, not with the legislature. The government sets the agenda, and they may block the assembly from making amendments to bills (called a blocked vote) . The National Assembly only meets 5 1/2 months a year, and only has six committees. Furthermore, the government may pass bills by decree, or without any vote from the legislature. Decrees extend to the power of the purse, so the assembly has lost one of the most fundamental responsibilities of government. They do still have the power to censure the cabinet, but the president has the power to dissolve the assembly.

The strength of the assembly lies in the general popular support that individuals have for their deputies, many of whom have held local offices as well. Public confidence in them has been far stronger than in the parties that organize them. French citizens may protest their government's actions, and they may change the parties that they support frequently, but they tend to be loyal to their deputies. The most important powers of the Assembly are the enactments of laws and the ability to censure the government.

Visit the official site of the French Senate...

Find out more about the National Assembly...