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La France

La France. Political system Actors and institutions Political culture. Un Peu D’Histoire. Pre-Revolution Revolution Regimes since Revolution 5 republics 3 monarchies 2 empires 1 fascist puppet state Regime instability. Encore d’Histoire. 1st Republic (1792-99) popular sovereignty

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La France

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  1. La France Political system Actors and institutions Political culture

  2. Un Peu D’Histoire • Pre-Revolution • Revolution • Regimes since Revolution • 5 republics • 3 monarchies • 2 empires • 1 fascist puppet state • Regime instability

  3. Encore d’Histoire • 1st Republic (1792-99) • popular sovereignty • Declaration of the Rights of Man • inauguration of more secular power • 2nd Republic (1848-52) • universal male suffrage • election of President by popular vote • 3rd Republic (1875-1940) • disestablishment of the church • executive made responsible to Parliament

  4. Encore plus d’histoire • Republicanism - the default system • But enduring pre-republican patterns • Tradition of political change combined with socio-cultural conservatism

  5. The 4th Republic (1946-58) • End of WWII - republicanism dominant credo • but conflict about form • constitution eventually agreed (hated by de Gaulle) • lack of strong executive • President as figurehead • Prime Minister chosen by and responsible to legislature

  6. 4th Republic - Problems • No coherent or stable majorities • 25 governments in 12 years • civil servants more influential than politicians (technocratic) • But some good points … • However, French generals not happy … • And then there was Algeria

  7. The 5th Republic (1958 - today) • A coup d’état? • How different from 4th Republic? • Much stronger executive (quasi-monarchical?) • Plebiscitary features • Reacting to different circumstances

  8. La Constitution • Popular election of President • Strong Presidential powers • Incompatibility of cabinet office with parliamentary mandate • Referenda • Traditional Republican features • Constitutional adaptation relatively easy

  9. L’État • Unitary • Democratic • Republic • Elected President • Strong executive • Traditionally centralised administration

  10. Le Système Politique • The President • The Prime Minister • Parliament • The National Assembly • The Senate • Sub-state territorial government

  11. L’Exécutif • Dual Executive • President • Prime Minister • Cohabitation • Powerful • Assisted by powerful and prestigious bureaucratic élite

  12. La Législature • 5th Republic different from 4th • National Assembly • Rules of procedure • Bills • Accumulation of mandates • Not the centre of French political life • Senate • Conservative • Limited power

  13. Les Faiblesses du Parlement • Weak Parliament? • 5th Republic - paradoxical position • Constitutional reduction of powers from 4th Republic • executive power not to emanate from Parliament • restrictions in legislative competence • Government sets agenda and timetable • Committee structure weakened • Financial powers constrained • Limited power to force government from office • Government able to legislate by decree

  14. Les Faiblesses (cont.) • Extra-Constitutional weaknesses: • Prime Ministers treat Parliament with disdain • Too much work • Deputies frequently indifferent to Government abuse of power • Debates not well attended • Scope of policies considered limited • Lack of effective, coherent opposition

  15. C’est pour quoi, le Parlement? • Rubber stamp executive decisions? • Taken for granted? • Senate can be hostile (especially to Left) • Amendments are increasing • Parliamentary Commissions do expose wrongdoing • Parliament may submit laws to Constitutional Council if unhappy

  16. Les Partis et les Elections • Elections • President • National Assembly • Senate

  17. La Gauche et La Droite • Political Parties • Long history of left and right • Parties or political families? • Left/right poles fragmenting? • The Left • The Right • The Extreme Right • Others

  18. La Culture Politique • Étatisme - state centrality • Dirigisme - state managed capitalism • Nationalism • Rural outlook? • Protectionist? • Long tradition of democracy • but flaws in democratic behaviour?

  19. Les Traits Français ? (Gérard Mermet) • taste for comfort • instinct for private property • collective laziness • hexagonal vision of reality • penchant for abstraction • admiration for the intellectual • the sanctification of the national past • orientation towards the local • concern with aesthetics • immobility and fear of outsiders

  20. Plus ça change ? • Increasing societal cynicism? • Change in political activism • A demystification of the state? • French exceptionalism • Or are political attitudes and behaviour increasingly resembling those of other W Europeans?

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