The current Constitution of France was adopted on October 4, 1958. It is typically called the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, and replaced that of the Fourth Republic dating from 1946. Charles de Gaulle was the main driving force in introducing the new constitution and inaugurating the Fifth Republic, while the text was drafted by Michel Debré. Since then the constitution has been amended eighteen times, most recently in 2008.


Government type: Unitary, Semi-Presidential Republic

Capital: Paris

Administrative divisions: 26 Regions

Constitution: adopted by referendum 28 September 1958; effective 4 October 1958; amended many times

Legal System: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of administrative but not legislative acts; has not accepted compulsory ICJ jurisdiction

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal


Executive Branch:

Chief of state: President Nicolas SARKOZY (since 16 May 2007)
Term: 5 years (earlier 7)
Limitations: A President cannot serve more than two consecutive terms

Head of government: Prime Minister Francois FILLON (since 17 May 2007)
cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister

Elections: President elected by popular vote for a five-year term (changed from seven-year term in October 2000); election last held 22 April and 6 May 2007 (next to be held spring 2012); prime minister appointed by the president, usually among the members of National Assembly.


Legislative Branch: (Parliament)


Upper House: Senate: Senate/Sénat

Members: 321 (343 in 2010)
Leadership: President
Meeting Place: Palais du Luxembourg, Paris
Term: 6 years (earlier 9 years)


Lower House: National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale

Members: 577 members known as députés (deputies); each elected by a single-member constituency
Term: 5 years
Official seat of the National Assembly: Palais Bourbon on the banks of the river Seine
Leadership: Président


Judicial Branch:


Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary)

Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate)

Council of State or Conseil d'Etat