French Parliament facts for kids
Quick facts for kids French ParliamentParlement français |
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| 17th legislature of the French Fifth Republic | |
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| Type | |
| Type | |
| Houses | |
| Leadership | |
| Structure | |
| Seats |
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Senate political groups
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National Assembly political groups
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Government (213)
Opposition (364)
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| Elections | |
| Indirect election | |
| Two-round system | |
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Senate last election
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24 September 2023 |
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National Assembly last election
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30 June and 7 July 2024 |
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Senate next election
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By September 2026 |
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National Assembly next election
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By June 2029 |
| Meeting place | |
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| Aile du Midi, Château de Versailles (joint session) | |
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| Palais du Luxembourg, meeting place of the French Senate | |
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| Palais Bourbon, meeting place of the French National Assembly | |
The French Parliament (which in French is called Parlement français) is like the main law-making body for France. It has two important parts, almost like two different teams working together: the Senate (or Sénat) and the National Assembly (or Assemblée nationale).
These two parts meet in different places in Paris. The Senate meets in a beautiful building called the Palais du Luxembourg. The National Assembly convenes in another grand building, the Palais Bourbon. Both buildings are on the left bank of the Seine River.
Even though they usually work separately, sometimes the Senate and the National Assembly come together. When they do, it's called the Congress of the French Parliament (or Congrès du Parlement français). They meet at the famous Palace of Versailles to make big changes to the French Constitution, which is the country's most important set of rules.
Contents
What is the French Parliament?
A Look at Its Name
The word "Parliament" might sound old, but in France, it started being used for the main law-making body in the 1800s. Before that, people often called the different parts "the Chambers."
It's important not to confuse the modern French Parliament with older "parlements" from a long time ago. Those old "parlements" were actually courts, not law-making groups like today's Parliament. They helped manage different regions of France.
France has had many different ways of governing itself since 1791. Most of the time, it has had two main groups working on laws, just like today's Senate and National Assembly.
How Members of Parliament Are Chosen
Electing Deputies for the National Assembly
The French Parliament has a total of 925 members. The National Assembly has 577 members, who are called deputies. These deputies are chosen by citizens in elections every five years.
To choose deputies, France is divided into many areas called constituencies. Each area votes for its own deputy. If no one wins a clear majority in the first vote, there's a second vote to decide.
Electing Senators for the Senate
The Senate has 348 members, called senators. Senators are not directly elected by all citizens. Instead, they are chosen by a special group of elected officials. This group includes deputies, local council members, and other representatives. This way of choosing senators is called "indirect election."
How the Parliament Works
Making Laws and Governing France
The Parliament usually meets for about nine months each year. But the President of France can ask them to meet more often if needed.
The National Assembly has a very important power. It can make the government step down if most of its members vote against the government. This is called a "motion of no confidence." Because of this, the government usually needs the support of the majority party in the National Assembly.
The Roles of President and Prime Minister
The President chooses the Prime Minister and other government ministers. Even though the President can choose anyone, usually these people come from the political party that has the most seats in the National Assembly.
Sometimes, the President and the Prime Minister come from different political parties. This situation is called "cohabitation." It means they have to work together even with different political views. The President leads the main meetings of the government ministers.
How Laws Are Proposed
The government has a big say in what the Parliament discusses. They can propose new laws. If the government ties a proposed law to its own term, it can be adopted quickly unless the National Assembly votes against it very fast. This process was changed a bit in 2008 to give Parliament more say. The National Assembly is usually where new law ideas start.
Special Powers of Parliament Members
Members of Parliament have something called "parliamentary immunity." This means they are protected from certain legal actions while doing their job.
Both the Senate and the National Assembly have special groups called committees. These committees study different topics and write reports. They can also set up special investigation groups to look into important issues. Since 2008, the opposition parties can even create one of these investigation groups each year, even if the majority doesn't want it. However, these groups cannot investigate something that is already being looked into by a court.
See also
In Spanish: Parlamento francés para niños
- Constitution of France
- Government of France
- History of France
- Politics of France
- Member of Parliament (France)
- List of French legislatures
- President of the Senate (France)
