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French Parliament




This article is for the post-Revolutionary and present-day institution. For the Ancien Régime institution, see Parlement .

The French Parliament () or '''Parliament of France''' is the deliberative and Legislative Branch ( Parliament ) of the Government Of France .

The current parliamentary system in France is Bicameral , and the Parliament is composed of:


ORGANIZATION AND POWERS

The two chambers conduct their deliberations in two different places:


They may however exceptionally reunite into one body, the French Congress (''Congrès du Parlement français''), at the Château De Versailles , to revise and amend the Constitution Of France .

Parliament meets for one 9-month session each year: under special circumstances the president can call an additional session. Although parliamentary powers have diminished from those existing under the Fourth Republic , the National Assembly can still cause a government to fall if an Absolute Majority of the total Assembly membership votes a Censorship Motion . As a result, the ''gouvernement'' ( Prime Minister and ministers) must be from the same political side as the Assembly and should be supported by a majority there. Periods during which the President Of France is not from the same political side as the Prime Minister are known as '' Cohabitation ''.

The cabinet has a strong influence in shaping the agenda of Parliament. The government also can link its term to a legislative text which it proposes, and unless a motion of censure is introduced (within 24 hours after the proposal) and passed (within 48 hours of introduction - thus full procedures last at most 72 hours), the text is considered adopted without a vote.

Members of Parliament enjoy Parliamentary Immunity . Both assemblies have committees that write reports on a variety of topics. If necessary, they can establish parliamentary enquiry commissions with broad investigative power.


HISTORY

The French Parliament, as a legislative body, should not confused with the various Parlement s of the Ancien Régime In France , which were courts of justice and tribunals with certain political functions.

The Parliament, in the modern meaning of the term, appeared in France during the French Revolution . Its form – Unicameral , Bicameral , or multicameral – and its functions have taken different forms throughout the different political regimes and according to the various French constitutions:


REFERENCES

This article is based on the article from the French Wikipedia , retrieved on October 13 , 2006 .



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