The Government of France

Joseph Barthelemy, J. Bayard Morris

• Publisher: Routledge
• Year: 2020
• Print ISBN: 9780367259884
• eBook ISBN: 9781000697544
• Topic: Politics & International Relations
• Subtopic: Political History & Theory
• Index: Politics & International Relations

Originally published in 1919. French institutions of today, considered as a whole, form a composite building on which every new regime for the last hundred years has left its mark. The foundation is provided by the social, legal, judicial and administrative system of the Napoleonic Empire, which was crowned in 1875 by the corner-stone of parliamentary democracy. Many other features has been left by other regimes; thus France owes her general principles of common law and her administrative divisions to the Revolution.

Contents

1. INTRODUCTION : The general character of French Institutions
2. I.—THE CONSTITUTION.
   1. The Republican Constitution of 1875 was the work of a Monarchist Assembly
   2. General character of the Constitution
   3. How the Constitution can be altered
   4. There is no sanction to compel the Chambers to respect the Constitution
   5. Bibliography
3. II.—THE PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY.
   1. Universal suffrage is the one source of power
   2. Representative system
   3. There is but one electorate, and one electoral list
   4. THE RIGHT TO VOTE.
      1. It is universal
      2. French nationality is required
      3. It is confined to the male sex
      4. Voters must have attained their twenty-first year
      5. Standard of intelligence
      6. Moral standard
   5. THE VOTE.
      1. There is but one electoral list
      2. It is permanent
      3. It is subject to annual revision
      4. Circumstances which deprive a man of his right to vote
   6. THE BALLOT.
      1. It is direct, optional, and secret; it does not permit illicit influence; and facilities are given to the electors for voting
      2. It is a majority vote
   7. THE JUDICIAL CONTROL OF ELECTIONS.
      1. The competent tribunals
      2. Bibliography
4. III.—PARLIAMENT.
   1. THE ENROLMENT AND STATUS OF MEMBERS OF PARLIAMENT.
      1. The Constitution takes no special precaution to ensure the competence of successful candidates
      2. It takes precautions to ensure their independence
      3. The actual manner in which the French Parliament is recruited
      4. The political groups
   2. THE WORKING OF PARLIAMENT.
      1. Theoretically Parliament is not permanent, but in practice its activities are continuous
      2. Each Chamber elects its own Committee
      3. Each Chamber makes its own regulations
      4. Bibliography
5. IV.—THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
   1. Eligibility
   2. Number of members
   3. Method of election: by the scrutin de liste
   4. Immediate and indefinite re-eligibility
   5. The entire Chamber is renewed
   6. Bibliography
6. V.—THE SENATE.
   1. Its powers
   2. Number of members
   3. Its origin
   4. CONSTITUTIONAL METHODS OF RESISTANCE.
      1. The Senate is a small body, in order that it may be calm
      2. Long duration of mandate and partial renewal
      3. The electorate and standard of eligibility, considered with regard to the stabilising influence which the Senate has to exert
   5. THE IDEAS OF THE POPULAR CHAMBER MORE ADVANCED THAN THOSE OF THE SENATE.
      1. The Senate is sufficiently advanced from a political point of view
      2. The Senate is hostile to all fiscal systems of democratic tendency
      3. The Senate is hostile to all forms of State Socialism
      4. The Resistance of the Senate
      5. Bibliography
7. VI.—THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC.
   1. He is elected by Parliament
   2. Length of office, and ...

Table of contents

• Cover
• Half Title
• Title
• Copyright
• Original Title
• Original Copyright
• Translator’s Note
• Contents
• INTRODUCTION : The general character of French Institutions
• I.—THE CONSTITUTION.
• II.—THE PRINCIPLE OF DEMOCRACY.
• III.—PARLIAMENT.
• IV.—THE CHAMBER OF DEPUTIES.
• V.—THE SENATE.
• VI.—THE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC.
• VII.—THE MINISTERS AND PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT.
• VIII.—FOREIGN POLICY.
• IX.—ADMINISTRATION.
• X.—JUSTICE.
• XI.—FINANCE.
• XI.—PUBLIC RIGHTS.
• CONCLUSION
• INDEX