• Political Science Notes

• Prepared by : Maaz Ur Rahman PSP

 French Political System
• French Revolution 1789—overthrew
monarchy established republic –
Declaration of Rights of Man on the
ideas of Voltaire , Montesquieu, and
Rousseau –constitution made in
1791
• First Republic -1795
1. System of Directory –plural executive ,5 members
chosen by legislature
2. Bicameral legislature –chosen by voters with property
qualification

But failed changed to Consulate in 1799 –system that

executive authority vested in three Consuls
Napoleon Bonaparte was the first -1804 became emperor
hold all powers crated authoritarian rule till 1814
• Second Republic –Revolution Feb 24,1848
Louis Philippe abdicated and quitted the
country –France proclaimed a republic
1. Louis Napoleon –nephew-became president
2. Drafted constitution on May 21,1870
• Third Republic -1875 Parliamentary Republic
President elected by majority of both houses
but actual power with PM
1. Vichy government –France occupied by Germans in WW2
2. The Government in Exile formed by General De Gaulle
entered France conducted referendum
3. formed Constituent Assembly Abolished Third Republic
4. Formed Provisional Government
• The Fourth Republic –came into effect on
Christmas Eve 1946

1. Parliamentary government PM called president of the

council of ministers but unstable 20 cabinets changed
2. Came to an end on June1 ,1958,
• Main reason of its collapse was Algiers Crisis
of 1958
• French Colony ,sought independence
1. Nearly led to civil war in France
2. Intervention of De Gaulle overcome situation

Charles De Gaulle appointed as

president of Council of Ministers by
president Rene Coty
French parliament give powers to
De Gaulle's government to make
constitution
• Michael Debre drafted constitution later
became PM– Constitutional Consultative
Committee 39 members
• He founded Fifth Republic approved by
referendum
• Came into force on 4 October 1958
• Two major themes : authority of the state
under the leadership of strong executive and
the establishment of a rationalize parliament
that is parliament with limited political and
legislative powers
 Feature of The Constitution of The Fifth
Republic
1) Semi-presidential –dual executive system that
split powers between a PM as head of
government and president as head of state
2) Secular state –church separated from state
3) Social Republic –everybody must be able to
access free public services and be helped
when needed
4) Democratic political system
5) Liberty ,equality and fraternity
6) Popular sovereignty –exercised through their
representatives and referendum
7) Bicameral legislature-called Congress-Senate
and National Assembly
8) Unitary state
9) Indivisible state –French people are united in
a single sovereign country and all people are
equal
• Republican Tradition
• Independence of Judiciary
• Ministerial Responsibility
• The Referendum –
• The Constitutional Council
• Amendment process –initiated by the President of
the republic proposed by PM and members of
parliament
• Two methods
1) Passed by parliament and approved by referendum
2) If not referendum then passed by three-fourth majority
 The president of France
• Direct election –two rounds
• Two term limit for 5 years
• Need to be nominated by 500 elected French
representatives
• Double ballot system with two rounds of
election 50% of votes needed
• Second round decide the winner
Powers and Functions of president
• Appointment of PM and his cabinet
• Preside over the council of ministers
• Promulgates act of parliament in 15 days or
send for recommendation
• Conduct referendum on bill if proposed by
government then promulgate
• Dissolution of NA after proposal from
presidents of NA senate and PM
• Sign decrees and ordinances after deliberation
in council of ministers
• Appointments to Civil and Military posts
• Ambassadors
• Commander-in-chief of armed forces
• Legislative authority
• Executive functions
• Judicial powers
 The Senate
• 348 members
• Indirect election by elected officials
• Tenure 6 years
• One-half change after 3 years
 National Assembly
• 577 members
• Known as deputies
• 5 years
• Direct election
• Two round system
• Majority party makes government
• French Citizen
• 18 years age
 The constitutional council
• Highest constitutional authority
• Interpretation of the constitution
• Membership
1. Former presidents of the Republic
2. Nine other members who serve non-renewable terms of
nine years
3. One-third are appointed every three years
4. Three each are elected by the president of republic , the
president of National Assembly and president of Senate
5. Appointments are subject to parliamentary approval
• Quorum-seven members
• Votes –majority of members present at the
meeting
• The president of the council has a casting vote in
case of an equal spit
• Two main functions : supervision of elections
both presidential and parliamentary and
ensuring the legitimacy of
referendums ;interpretation of the constitution