France

The French Republic or France ({{ll|French}}: République française or France) is a country whose metropolitan territory is located in Western Europe, and which is further made up of a collection of overseas islands and territories located in other continents.{{ref|overseasholdings}}

Government and Politics

The constitution of the Fifth Republic was approved by referendum on September 28 1958. It greatly strengthened the authority of the executive in relation to Parliament.

Related Topics:
Fifth Republic - Referendum - September 28 - 1958 - Parliament

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Under the constitution of France, the President of France is elected directly by the public for a 5-year (originally 7-year) term. Presidential arbitration assures regular functioning of the public powers and the continuity of the state. The president names the prime minister, presides over the cabinet, commands the armed forces, and concludes treaties.

Related Topics:
Constitution of France - President of France

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The National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) is the principal legislative body. Its deputies are directly elected to 5-year terms, and all seats are voted on in each election. The Assembly has the power to dismiss the cabinet, and thus the majority in the Assembly determines the choice of government. Senators are chosen by an electoral college for 6-year terms, and one half of the Senate is renewed every 3 years starting in 2007.{{ref|FrenchSenate2007}} The Senate's legislative powers are limited; the National Assembly has the last word in the event of a disagreement between the two houses, except for constitutional laws (amendments to the constitution & "lois organiques"). The government has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament.

Related Topics:
National Assembly - Senate

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French politics, for the past 30 years, have been characterised by the opposition of two political groups: one left-wing, centred around the French Socialist Party, and one right-wing, centred around the Rassemblement pour la République (RPR), then its successor the Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP). The Front National nationalist / hard right party, seizing on voters' growing concerns of their country's perceived decline, as well as 'national dissolution' brought about by immigration and globalisation, and advocating tougher law-and-order and immigration policies, has made inroads since the early 1980s, but has lately remained stable at around 16% of the votes.

Related Topics:
Left-wing - French Socialist Party - Right-wing - Rassemblement pour la République (RPR) - Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) - Front National

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See also:

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• Constitution of France
• President of France
• List of Prime Ministers of France
• List of Foreign Ministers of France
• Foreign relations of France

Foreign relations

France's founding membership in the European Union has largely defined France's foreign policy. On May 29, 2005 the French rejected the referendum to decide whether their country should ratify the proposed Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe with approximately 55% voting no. The outcome of the vote was widely regarded as crucial for the future development of the EU, as well as for France's ability to retain its position of leadership in Europe. The French Republic is furthermore a member of the Secretariat of the Pacific Community (SPC) and of the Indian Ocean Commission (COI), and an associate member of the Association of Caribbean States (ACS). France is also a leading member of the International Organisation of Francophonie (OIF) which gathers 51 fully or partly French-speaking countries.

Related Topics:
European Union - May 29 - 2005 - Referendum - Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe - Secretariat of the Pacific Community - Indian Ocean Commission - Association of Caribbean States - International Organisation of Francophonie

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France hosts the headquarters of the OECD and UNESCO, as well as those of the International Bureau for Weights and Measures in charge of the international metric system, and Interpol.

Related Topics:
OECD - UNESCO - International Bureau for Weights and Measures - Metric system - Interpol

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