France Government Facts: Here's What You Need To Know!

The National Assembly of France possesses the power to dismiss a government if the government loses the absolute majority and dominates the political spectrum.

France is a democratic country in Western Europe where parliamentary elections are held to elect the French President. The parliamentary majority or absolute majority is essential for the candidates to win the presidential elections and be elected for a period of five years.

Officially, the Government of France is referred to as the Government of the French Republic. Exercising executive powers is the duty and responsibility of the government of France.

The government comprises the prime minister, as the head of the executive, along with many senior as well as junior ministers. The main executive organ of the Government of France is the Council of Ministers.

The Council of Ministers was established as an organ in 1958 and was added to the Constitution. The members of the Council of Ministers are supposed to meet at the Élysée Palace in Paris once a week.

The president of France presides over these meetings. The president is regarded as the head of the state.

The ministers that are the most senior in the government are regarded as the ministers of state. The ministers of state are accompanied by ministers that help them follow the protocol orders. Other ministers include the minister's delegate and the junior ministers.

The junior ministers are regarded as the secretaries of the state. All the members of the Government of France are appointed by the president on the advice of the Prime Minister.

They are responsible to the National Assembly. The National Assembly is the lower house of the parliament of France. The court that deals with cases of misconduct among the ministers and the members of the parliament are called Cour de Justice de la République.

The government comprises the president, the prime minister, junior and senior misters who are responsible for civil service, government agencies, and the armed forces. France has a separate administrative branch, judicial branch, and legislative branch. The justice system is quite advanced and the independent judiciary on the judicial branch is not answerable to other branches.

The main political parties active in the French political system are the Socialist Party, The French Communist Party, The Green Party, The Radical Left, and Unsubmissive France. After reading these interesting facts about the French constitution and the role of the constitutional council, also check France geography facts and Georgia colony fun facts.

History Of France Government

Post the May 1958 insurrection in Algeria, France experienced a huge political turmoil. A government was formed by General Charles de Gaulle through the constitutional law of June 1958.

The responsibility of creating the draft of a new constitution was handed over to this newly formed government. Hence, the constitution of the Fifth Republic was crafted by de Gaulle with the help of Michel Debré.

The constitution was drafted and promulgated on October 4, 1958. This newly formed constitution was different from the earlier constitutions of 1875 and 1946 in various ways.

Most importantly, in the drafting of this constitution, parliament was not a participant. The drafting was completed by a government working party that was helped by a Constitutional Advisory Committee along with the Council of State. Out of all the territories acquired by France overseas, Guinea did not accept the new constitution.

The political stability that was lacking in the third and the fourth Republic was a matter of prime concern in the constitution of 1958. In order to deal with this problem, a mixed form of government was formed.

This form of government was regarded as a semi-presidential government because it was a combination of presidential and parliamentary systems. Since then, France follows a bicameral legislature that consists of two houses.

The National Assembly is the lower house whereas the Senate is the upper house of the parliament. The elections for the president are performed directly by the universal adult franchise.

The president appoints the prime minister which is often called the premier. The premier is responsible for the execution of laws. The Council of Ministers or the cabinet is also appointed by the president.

The prime minister and the Council of Ministers together form the government of France.

Facts On The Founder Of France Government

The founder of the Fifth Republic of France's government was André Joseph Marie de Gaulle. Gaulle was an army officer in France. He was a French statesman and the leader of France against Nazi Germany in the Second World War.

He chaired the formation of the Provisional Government of France with the aim of the democratic reestablishment of France. He can be called the founding father of the present government and constitution of France. He chaired the drafting of the new constitution in 1958 and was the founder of the Fifth Republic.

Later, Gaulle was elected as the president of France. In 1965, he was again elected as the president. However, in 1969, he officially issued his resignation.

The first written constitution of France was adopted by the Kingdom of France in 1791. But, after the foundation of the first French Republic a year later the Kingdom was demolished.

However, later in 1814, the monarchy in France was again established. This led to the French Revolution in 1848.

The chief causes of the French Revolution were as follows. Firstly, the bourgeoisie bore a grudge because of their lost position of honor and exclusion from the political powers.

The peasants who were already in a bad situation were reluctant in supporting the feudal system that seemed burdensome and anachronistic. Last but not the least, the people of France were highly influenced by the philosophers and their work which was read all over France.

Who destroyed democracy in France?

Democracy in France as well as the French Constitution was destroyed by Napoleon. However, he added principles of the revolution in the administration so as to make the system quite efficient and more rational. Napoleon issued the Civil Code of 1804, which was spread in all the countries including Germany, Italy, and Switzerland.

The Civil Code of 1804, also known as the Napoleonic code, spread to all countries including Switzerland, Italy, and Germany. According to the Civil Code, the privileges that were provided because of birth were abolished. The right to equality before the law and the right to property was secured.

The feudal system was abolished thereby simplifying the divisions of the administration. The serfdom and manorial dues of the weaker sections of the society and the peasants were pardoned. Guild restrictions were removed in the towns.

The network of communications and transport was improved. Businessmen, workers, artisans, and peasants acquired freedom because the laws of Napoleon were uniform. Napoleon made standards for weights and measures and systematized currencies that favored locomotion from place to place.

What type of government did France have after Napoleon fell in 1815?

After the abdication of Napoleon in 1815, Louis XVIII became the king. At that time, peace returned in France. People were not supposed to pay war indemnities, the 1792 boundaries were restored and France was granted a peaceful settlement.

The Charter of 1814, which was a new constitution, was drafted. When Napoleon returned for a short period of time after the Hundred Days, Louis XVIII was restored by the allies of 1815 and the two decades of war were brought to an end.

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