French Parliament
The French Parliament, known as the Parliament of France, is the legislative branch of the Government of France. It plays a crucial role in the country's political system, which is based on the principles of the French Fifth Republic established in 1958.
Structure
The Parliament is bicameral, consisting of two chambers:
- National Assembly - The lower house, directly elected by the French population. It has 577 members known as deputies, each representing a single-member constituency.
- Senate - The upper house, indirectly elected by an electoral college consisting of elected officials from various levels of local government. The Senate has 348 senators as of the last election.
Functions and Powers
The Parliament's main functions include:
- Legislation: Passing laws, which requires the approval of both houses. The National Assembly has the final say in case of a disagreement.
- Control over the Government: It can question the government, set up commissions of inquiry, and vote on motions of censure which can lead to the resignation of the government.
- Budgetary Authority: Parliament approves the national budget.
- European Union Legislation: It participates in the adoption of European laws through the scrutiny of EU directives and regulations.
Historical Context
The origins of the French Parliament can be traced back to the Estates-General of 1789, which evolved into the National Constituent Assembly during the French Revolution. Over time, the structure and power of the legislative body have seen numerous changes:
- During the First French Empire, legislative powers were significantly diminished under Napoleon.
- The Third Republic established a bicameral system with a Chamber of Deputies and a Senate.
- The Vichy regime during World War II saw the suspension of parliamentary democracy.
- The Fourth Republic reinstated a strong parliament, but it was unstable due to frequent changes in government.
- The Fifth Republic shifted more executive power to the President, reducing parliamentary influence but still maintaining its legislative role.
Recent Developments
Recent reforms have aimed at modernizing the functioning of the Parliament:
- Reduction in the number of parliamentarians to make the institution more efficient.
- Introduction of gender parity in candidate lists for elections to ensure better representation.
- Strengthening of the role of parliamentary committees to improve legislative scrutiny.
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