French Parliament

French Parliament. The French Parliament is the bicameral legislature of the French Fifth Republic, comprising the upper house, the Senate, and the lower house, the National Assembly. It convenes in two distinct locations in Paris: the Palais du Luxembourg for the Senate and the Palais Bourbon for the National Assembly. Its primary roles, as defined by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, are to pass statutes, oversee the actions of the Government, and authorize declarations of war.

History

The modern institution finds its origins in the revolutionary National Constituent Assembly of 1789, which succeeded the Estates General of the Ancien Régime. Throughout the 19th and 20th centuries, its form and power fluctuated dramatically between different republican, imperial, and monarchical systems, from the Consulate and the Second French Empire to the Third and Fourth Republics. The current structure was established by the Constitution of 1958, drafted under the guidance of Charles de Gaulle and Michel Debré, which significantly curtailed parliamentary dominance seen during the Fourth Republic to create a more stable executive led by the President of France.

Composition and organization

The Parliament consists of two chambers with different compositions and electoral methods. The National Assembly is composed of 577 deputies, known as *députés*, directly elected for five-year terms from single-member constituencies through a two-round system, barring dissolution by the President of France. The Senate comprises 348 senators, indirectly elected for six-year terms by an electoral college of approximately 162,000 local officials, including mayors and regional councilors, ensuring representation of territorial communities. Each chamber is presided over by a president, such as Yaël Braun-Pivet for the Assembly and Gérard Larcher for the Senate, and organizes its work through permanent committees like the Finance Committee.

Powers and functions

Its constitutional powers are primarily legislative, involving the voting of laws on matters defined in Article 34 of the constitution, such as civil liberties, taxation, and national defense. It controls the national budget through the vote on the *Loi de Finances*. While the Government sets the legislative agenda, members can also propose laws. Parliament holds powers of oversight through written and oral questions, investigation commissions, and, most notably, the ability to pass a motion of censure against the government, as occurred famously in 1962 against the cabinet of Georges Pompidou. It must also authorize declarations of war and extend a state of siege beyond twelve days.

Relationship with the Government

The relationship is defined by the constitution, which establishes a hybrid semi-presidential system. The Government, led by the Prime Minister, is responsible before the National Assembly, which can force its resignation via a motion of censure, as seen during the cohabitation period under Jacques Chirac. However, the executive holds significant leverage, including the ability to pass ordinances and use Article 49.3 to force adoption of a bill without a vote. The President of France can dissolve the Assembly, a power exercised by François Mitterrand in 1981 and 1988, and by Jacques Chirac in 1997.

Current composition and political groups

Following the 2022 legislative elections, the National Assembly is characterized by a fragmented political landscape without an absolute majority. The largest group is the presidential coalition Ensemble Citoyen, led by Renaissance, the party of Emmanuel Macron. Major opposition groups include the left-wing coalition NUPES, incorporating La France Insoumise, the Socialist Party, and The Greens, as well as the right-wing The Republicans and the far-right National Rally. In the Senate, elected in 2023, the center-right, led by The Republicans, maintains a traditional majority, influencing the Congress convened at the Palace of Versailles.

Category:French Parliament Category:Bicameral legislatures Category:National legislatures