France: Fifth Republic

1. France: Fifth Republic Structures of Government

2. Legacy of the Fourth Republic (1946 – 1958) • Classical parliamentary system of government • Narrowness of government coalitions led to political instability • 24 governments in 12 years • Weak leadership • International tensions source of domestic instability • Threat of civil war in Algeria leads to transfer of powers to General de Gaulle ALN guerrillas using mortar across the Algerian-Tunisian border protected by the electrified Morice Line. (1958)

3. Constitution and Governmental Structure • Constitution of 1958 • Mixed – Presidential Parliamentary government • The Executive • President of the Republic • Placed above parties • Worked with Parliament, the Cabinet, the people • Could appeal to the people in two ways: • Submit legislation to the electorate for referendum • Could dissolve Parliament and call for new elections

4. Powerful Presidential : Designed for Gen Charles deGaulle • Chosen by the parliament • Sparing use of emergency powers • Only during rebellion of generals in Algiers (1961)

5. Presidential legitimacy and authority augmented by popular election • 1962 constitutional amendment provided for a seven year, renewal term • Amendment approved in national referendum • Subsequently reduced to five years (2000) • General Secretariat and staff at Elysee Palace (smaller than White House Staff) • Fifth Republic presidents view power as emanating directly from the people

6. Nicolas Sarkosy: assumed presidency of France – May 16, 2007 • YouTube - Nicolas sarkosy et Ségolène Royal • www.youtube.com/watch?v=H1OqdDdEIzY French President and current rotating President of the European Union Nicolas Sarkozy, center, speaks as U.S. President George W. Bush, left, and President of the European Commission, right, Jose Manuel Barroso look on October 18, in Camp David, Maryland.

7. Dissolution of parliament Jacques Chirac lost his in his effort to extend conservative rule (1997) Francois Mitterrand won his gamble to gain a socialist majority in parliament (1981)

9. French Executive: President • Hybrid dimensions of the French presidency • Duties • Chooses Prime Minister • Chairs Council of Ministers • Removes ministers who have lost his confidence • Dominates Foreign Affairs and Defense Policy François Hollande

10. Office of Prime Minister • Responsible for day-to-day running of the government • Division of responsibilities president/Prime Minister varies • Personalities enter into division of responsibilities • Conditions under which Prime Minister serves • Lionel Jospin (different party than president) • François Fillon(same party as the president)

11. François Fillon: Prime Minister of France under Chirac (appointed May 17, 2007) • 1997, National Secretary of RPR, in charge of the Federations. • Since 2002, founder member of Union en Mouvement, writer of the project of Union en Mouvement ("Our vision for France") and President of the Association France.

12. Current Prime Minister (Jean Marc Avrault) • Close ally of François Hollande • Named: 16 May 2012 • Primary tasks: Harnesses parliamentary majority for presidential policies

13. What is involved in running “day to day” activities of the executive in France?) • Administration • Develops legislation • Budget • Calls inter-ministerial meetings • Regularly scheduled meetings of high civil servants • Reflect growing power of PM

14. French Executive: Times of co-habitation • Prime Minister gains dominant authority at expense of President • Presidential power – limited by lack of control over administrative machinery • Prime Minister’s power – limited by • Parliament • President prerogatives • still can make appointments • Foreign and Defense policy maker

15. French Legislature: Two Houses • National Assembly • Senate

16. French National Assembly Power curtailed as a lesson of history

17. French National Assembly • Elected directly for five year terms • May be dissolved at any time • 1958 constitution strove to end subordination of government to parliament • President chooses cabinet members

18. Policy Process: French National Assembly • Most legislation proposed by the government • Blocked vote • Parliament must accept bill in its entirety • Used after 1986 to compensate for slim government majorities • Parliament votes broad enabling legislation • Enabling ordnances from government

19. Policy Process: French National Assembly II • Prime Minister may “pledge” the responsibility of the government • Bill becomes law without vote • Used during time that Socialists controlled both the National Assembly and presidency • Parliament may censure government – usually results in dissolution

20. Conditions under which National Assembly Overthrows a Government • Explicit motion of censure • Passed by more than one-half of the members of Assembly • Gvt. can resist pressure to resign • Can call for new election • New dissolution parliament prohibited • Vote of censure is only way National Assembly can condemn government

21. French Senate • Since 2004 • 346 senators • 9-year term • Elected indirectly • by approximately 150,000 local elected officials ("grands électeurs"), including mayors, city councillors, and deputies of the National Assembly. • This system introduces a bias in the composition of the Senate, which favors rural areas.

22. Policy Process: French Senate Historically hostile to social and economic change Defended traditional republican liberties Most influential in delaying legislation Constitutional amendments need approval by simple – or three-fifths- majority Relationship with National Assembly relatively peaceful

23. Constitutional Council • Originally seen as firewall against legislative erosion of constraints placed on National Assembly • Landmark decision in 1971established right to judicial review

24. Constitutional Council – 1974 Constitutional Amendment increased powers • Empowered to consider legislation before it is promulgated • 60 senators or 60 deputies can submit cases for a ruling • Up to 28% of laws in given year submitted to Council

25. Regional Government: departments • Centralization has predominated despite presence of forces favoring decentralization • Since Revolution France divided into 100 departments administered by a prefect • Departments grouped into 22 regions since 1955 • Elected assembly since 1986 • Also elected president

26. Decentralization legislation of 1986 • Most formal powers of prefects transferred to presidents of departmental and regional councils • Regional councils elected for first time by system of proportional representation • Interests of larger French cities enhanced by establishment of elected regional councils • Big city mayors have considerable influence

28. Balance between Centralization/Decentralization • Greatest loss of authority of central government has been in reduction of authority of prefects • Imposition of national standards allow central bureaucracy to keep large measure of national control