Summary A review and explanation of the political systems of France and Italy
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Course
Constitutional Law
Institution
Sciences Po
In this document you'll find a presentation of the political systems of both France and Italy.
For each of them, I developped explanations on :
- Their constitution
- Legislative branch
- Executive branch
- Judiciary branch
- Checks and balances
France
Constitution of 1958
Written by De Gaulle, at that time Prime Minister.
A popular referendum approved the constitution of the French Fifth Republic in 1958, greatly
strengthening the authority of the presidency and the executive with respect to Parliament.
The constitution does not contain a bill of rights in itself, but its preamble mentions that
France should follow the principles of the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen,
as well as those of the preamble to the constitution of the Fourth Republic.
In order to achieve political stability the constitution of 1958 adopted a mixed
(semipresidential) form of government, combining elements of both parliamentary and
presidential systems.
Legislative branch
The Parliament of France, making up the legislative branch, consists of two houses: the
National Assembly and the Senate; the National Assembly is the pre-eminent body.
National Assembly:
The National Assembly is the lower house of the French Parliament.
It is composed of 577 deputies (députés) who are elected for a five-year term through a
mixed system of single-member districts and proportional representation.
The deputies are elected in general elections held every five years. However, if the
President dissolves the National Assembly, early elections may be held.
The National Assembly is responsible for proposing and voting on legislation, scrutinizing the
government's actions, and approving the budget.
Senate:
The Senate is the upper house of the French Parliament.
It is composed of 348 senators (sénateurs) who are elected for a six-year term.
Senators are chosen through an indirect electoral college system, which includes various
categories of local and regional elected officials.
The Senate serves as a revising chamber, reviewing legislation proposed by the National
Assembly. It can suggest amendments and modifications to bills, but the final decision rests
with the National Assembly in most cases.
, Additionally, the Senate has certain constitutional powers, such as approving changes to the
Constitution and conducting investigations into matters of public concern.
Legislative process:
The legislative process typically begins with the proposal of a bill by either the government or
individual members of Parliament.
The bill is then examined by relevant parliamentary committees, where it undergoes scrutiny,
debate, and possible amendment.
After committee review, the bill is debated and voted upon in the chamber in which it was
introduced (either the National Assembly or the Senate).
If the bill is approved by one chamber, it is sent to the other chamber for further
consideration. The second chamber may suggest amendments or modifications.
Once both chambers have agreed on the final text of the bill, it is sent to the President for
promulgation. The President has the power to sign the bill into law or request further
consideration by the Parliament.
If the President signs the bill, it becomes law and is published in the Official Journal of the
French Republic.
The Executive
President
Head of state and the highest authority in the executive branch.
The President is elected by popular vote for a five-year term and can serve a maximum of
two consecutive terms.
The President's powers include:
Serving as the commander-in-chief of the armed forces.
Representing France in international affairs.
Appointing the Prime Minister and other members of the government.
Presiding over the Council of Ministers (Cabinet meetings).
Dissolving the National Assembly under certain circumstances and calling for new elections.
Prime Minister
Appointed by the President and serves as the head of government.
The Prime Minister leads the Council of Ministers and coordinates government policies.
They are responsible for implementing laws, managing government departments, and
representing the government in Parliament.
The Prime Minister's role is crucial in forming and directing government policy, but they are
accountable to both the President and Parliament.
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