Government of France facts for kids

Quick facts for kids Government of the French Republic
Gouvernement de la République française
Central government
Overview
Established	4 October 1958 (Fifth Republic)
State	French Republic
Leader	Prime Minister of France
Appointed by	President of France
Main organ	Council of Ministers
Responsible to	National Assembly
Annual budget	€299.7 billion
Headquarters	Hôtel Matignon, Paris

The Government of France is the team that runs the country. It is also called the Government of the French Republic (Gouvernement de la République française). This team holds the executive power in France. This means they put laws into action and manage the country's daily affairs. The government includes the Prime Minister, who leads the government, and many other ministers.

The most important part of the government is the Council of Ministers. It was created by France's Constitution in 1958. The ministers meet every week at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The president of France, who is the head of state, leads these meetings. Even though the President leads, they are not officially a member of the government team.

The Prime Minister decides who gets different minister titles. There are senior ministers, called ministers of state, and other ministers. Junior ministers are called secretaries of state. The president of France appoints all these government members. They do this after the Prime Minister suggests who should be chosen. All ministers must answer to the National Assembly. This is the lower house of the French Parliament. It's like the main elected body that checks on the government.

France also helps Monaco choose its top minister. The French government suggests a person to the Prince of Monaco.

The French Government: How France is Run

Who Makes Up the Government?

The president of France chooses all members of the French government. They do this based on advice from the Prime Minister. Each minister has a specific rank, decided when the government is formed. The Prime Minister is always the leader of this team. The President usually picks a Prime Minister who is supported by the majority of the National Assembly. This is because the government needs the Parliament's trust to work. After being chosen, the Prime Minister suggests a list of other ministers to the President. The President can approve or reject these suggestions. Ministers are ranked by their importance:

Different Kinds of Ministers

• Ministers of State (French: ministres d'État) are very senior ministers. They are part of the Council of Ministers. This is an honorary title, given for their experience and importance.
• Ministers (French: Ministres) are also senior members. They lead specific government departments, like the Ministry of Education or Health.
• Secretaries of State (French: secrétaires d'État) are junior ministers. They are the lowest rank in the government team. Secretaries work under a main minister or sometimes directly for the Prime Minister. They can attend Council of Ministers meetings if their specific work is being discussed.

What Does the Government Do?

The French government's main job is to guide and decide the country's policies. They write bills (ideas for new laws) to present to Parliament. They also create decrees, which are like rules or orders. All important decisions made by the government are officially recorded. They are published in the government gazette, a public record.

The Council of Ministers: Weekly Meetings

The Council of Ministers is set up by the French Constitution. It includes only the most senior ministers. Sometimes, Secretaries of State can join if their topic is discussed. The President of France leads these Council meetings. However, the Prime Minister still guides the overall work of the Council. In the past, the Prime Minister was even called the 'president of the Council of Ministers'.

The Council of Ministers must approve all new laws proposed by the government. They also approve certain decrees. This Council decides the main political direction for the country. They then work to make these plans happen. The government is also in charge of France's national defense. They guide the French Armed Forces. All government members work together as a team, following the idea of collegiality.

The Council of Ministers meets every Wednesday morning. These meetings happen at the Élysée Palace. The President leads them, encouraging teamwork among ministers. The meetings follow a clear plan. First, they discuss new laws and rules. Next, they talk about decisions for hiring important government workers. Finally, a minister might present a new project. Or the President might ask for advice on a topic. The Minister of Foreign Affairs also shares updates on world events each week.

How Ministries Work Day-to-Day

Most of the government's daily work happens within each individual ministry. Each ministry is led by its own minister. Every minister has a special team of staff called a "ministerial cabinet" (French: Cabinet ministériel). These teams usually have 10 to 20 members. They are chosen by the minister to help them run their department. Cabinet members are important people who help with both political and administrative tasks. The minister decides how their cabinet is organized.

Often, different ministries work together on projects. The Prime Minister makes sure these joint meetings run smoothly. They ensure that all government work is done well. The Prime Minister must also approve many decisions made by these cabinets. They also give advice on any new decrees.

Managing France's Money: The Budget

The government manages France's money and economy. The Prime Minister must approve all spending by each ministry. They also oversee all the money the government collects. Spending happens through a 'finance law' (French: Loi de Finances). This law is similar to an appropriation bill in other countries. Each year, ministers ask for money for their departments. They send these requests to the Budget Ministry. This ministry decides which requests to approve or deny. It also plans the country's budget for the next year. Parliament must vote on all parts of the finance law.

Keeping Powers Separate

Ministers in the French government cannot hold other jobs at the same time. They cannot be a member of Parliament or lead a national business group. They also cannot have other public jobs or professional activities. These rules help ministers focus only on their government work. It also stops outside groups from influencing them. So, if a member of Parliament becomes a minister, they must leave their Parliament seat. However, ministers can still hold local elected jobs. For example, they can be a city mayor. The Constitution allows ministers to lead a political party. But usually, they do not take on such a role.

The government must answer to the French Parliament. Specifically, they are accountable to the National Assembly. The National Assembly can remove the government using a motion of censure. This means they vote that they no longer trust the government. If there is a temporary (acting) president, the government cannot fully function. This is because the acting president might be the Prime Minister or the President of the Senate. This helps keep the different parts of government separate. If the government plans a military action lasting over four months, they must ask Parliament for permission. The Prime Minister can also call Parliament for special meetings. They can also add more working days to the legislative calendar.

Current Ministries in France

The names of ministries often change in France. This is a list of current ministries:

• Ministry of the Interior
• Ministry of Justice
• Ministry for Europe and Foreign Affairs
• Ministry of Armed Forces and Veterans Affairs
• Ministry of Partnership with the Territories and Decentralization
• Ministry of Health and Access to Care
• Ministry of Solidarity, Autonomy and Equality between Women and Men
• Ministry of the Economy, Finance and Industry
• Ministry of Ecological Transition, Energy, Climate and Risk Prevention
• Ministry of Culture
• Ministry of Labour, Employment
• Ministry of Housing and Urban Renewal
• Ministry of National Education
• Ministry of Sports, Youth and Community Life
• Ministry of Agriculture, Food Sovereignty and Forestry
• Ministry of the Civil Service, Simplification and Transformation of Public Action
• Ministry of Higher Education, Research

See also

In Spanish: Gobierno de Francia para niños