What Type of Government Does France Have?
The government in France operates by what is known as the semi-presidential system, and is based on the French Constitution of the fifth Republic, which was officially approved by the public and signed into law in 1958.
When reviewing the type of government in France, it is important to understand how their semi-presidential system works. In the semi-presidential arrangement, there are three specific branches, or divisions, of the government, called:
You may notice that these are the same three branches of government in the bicameral system of the US government. However, the type of government that France has is not exactly the same as the US government and there are some important differences versus the US.
Functions of the Executive Branch in France
The executive branch of the government is made up of the president and the prime minister, both of whom share the main executive control.
- The president is in charge of appointing the prime minister. He or she is also in charge of many of the same responsibilities as the American president, such as commanding the army, signing and negotiating agreements with other countries, and making decisions on the budget.
- The prime minister typically handles many of the same issues, but on a smaller scale; he or she will deal with day-to-day work while the president deals with larger, more complex affairs.
However, the two of them do not make all decisions on their own: much like the Congress in the United States, the president and prime minister must work in conjunction with a group called the Parliament.
Functions of the Parliament
In understanding the kind of government in France, you also need to know what Parliament does. The Parliament is divided into two groups: the National Assembly and the Senate. Each performs various operations, but in general they:
- Vote on laws
- Help pass statutes
- Make various other decisions along with the support of the executive branch
This group is also designed to act as a check and balance system, questioning decisions made by the executive branch and ensuring the decisions are best for the people.
If the Parliament and the executive branch make a decision on a statute, it’s not official until it passes through the hands of yet another group. The Constitutional Council exists solely for the purpose of ensuring that all actions taken by Parliament and the executive branch fall within the boundaries of the French Constitution.
Elections in France
Presidents in France are elected to their position, and they remain in office for a term of five years. They are limited to two consecutive terms in office.
Early French Governments
Before 1982, the French government was largely controlled on the national level. This meant the national government made the majority of the decisions, which were then applied to all areas of the country. New legislation passed in 1982 split up some of the decision-making power and gave it to various elected officials in local areas, thus decentralizing the national control and hopefully better meeting the needs of individual regions.