French Politics 101

🇫🇷 FRANCE · POLITICS 101

A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE. A STRONGER VOICE.

Start here for a quick understanding of politics and advocating for the world’s poor.
France politicsFrance · Politics 101
What You’ll Learn
  • Which political leaders to focus on.
  • Who your leaders are and how to contact them.
  • How a bill becomes a law
  • How to influence your leaders.
  • Helpful information.
UNDERSTAND THE SYSTEM

Three Parts. National Lawmaking.

National Assembly

The chamber where deputies serve.

Senate

The chamber where senators serve.

President

Promulgates laws after the parliamentary process.
Parliament in a Nutshell
  • The French Parliament consists of two chambers: the National Assembly and the Senate.
  • There are a total of 577 members in the National Assembly and 348 members in the Senate.
  • Deputies (members of the National Assembly) are directly elected by citizens and serve five-year terms, though the President can dissolve the National Assembly and call for earlier elections.
  • Senators serve six-year terms. They are not directly elected by citizens, but are instead elected by local officials, known as grands électeurs.
  • Each individual in France is represented by one Deputy in the National Assembly based on their circonscription. Each circonscription has approximately 100,000 people, and French election law mandates that population variance between conscriptions is to not exceed 20%.
  • The number of Senators per department and overseas collectivity is also determined by population.
  • When it comes to advocacy, members are primarily interested in hearing from their own constituents, the people living in their respective circonscriptions and departments/overseas collectivities.
  • If you send an advocacy email to a leader who does not represent where you live, it may be ignored or redirected to your own leader.
  • To effectively engage with your leaders, it is crucial to direct your advocacy efforts towards the leaders who specifically represent where you live.
YOUR REPRESENTATIVES

Find and Understand Your Leaders

What Politicians Should I Focus On?
  • In the context of the French Parliament, you should primarily focus on the leaders who represent your specific area. This includes your Deputy in the National Assembly (Assemblée nationale), and your Senators in the Senate (Sénat). These leaders have the power to influence policy decisions, allocate funding, and pass legislation. While the role of the President, Prime Minister, and government is significant, engaging with your local leaders allows you to directly impact the legislative process and advocate for specific issues related to poverty reduction.
    • Who Are My Leaders and How Can I Contact Them?
  • To find your Deputy and Senators, you can visit the official National Assembly and Senate websites or use online tools that provide information based on your postcode. These resources will help you identify the Deputy representing your circonscription, and the Senators representing your department (or overseas collectivity). Once you have their names, you can easily locate their contact information on the National Assembly and Senate websites.
    • Gaining Support?
  • In the context of the French Parliament, the term « cosponsor » is not commonly used. However, throughout the entire legislative process, members of Parliament can support or endorse specific bills by expressing their agreement or voting in favor of the proposed legislation. The support of members is crucial in pushing for bills to be scheduled for debates, votes, and potential passage into law. Advocacy efforts often involve urging MPs to support and champion key poverty-reduction bills in order to generate momentum and secure parliamentary action.
    • UNDERSTAND THE PROCESS

    From an Idea to an Act

    01

    Introduce a Bill

    02

    Committee & Debate

    03

    Parliamentary Shuttle

    04

    Promulgation

    How Does a Bill Become a Law?
  • This video explains how a Bill becomes a Law. However, we have also written a detailed explanation below (with source credit to Vie Publique):
  • Introduction: Bills can be introduced by members in either the National Assembly or the Senate, though most are actually drafted by the Council of Ministers and then sent to Parliament. Bills introduced by Deputies or Senators are called proposition de loi, and these « cannot result in either a reduction of public resources, or the creation or aggravation of a public burden. » Bills drafted by the Council of Ministers and sent to Parliament are called projet de loi, which must be accompanied by an impact assessment (étude d’impact). Either way, after introduction, the bills then follow the same process through the rest of Parliament.
  • Committee: After introduction, the bill moves on to the committee that most fits the topic of the bill, in the chamber for which its originating. Many bills dealing with global poverty reduction issues are seen by the Commission des affaires étrangères or the Commission des finances. The committee assigns a specific committee member, known as a rapporteur, to study the bill in depth and write a report for the other members. Any member of the committee may propose amendments to the bill. The committee then adopts their version of the bill, to be sent back to full Parliament.
  • First plenary session: After the committee approves the bill, it moves back to the originating chamber. After the bill is then placed on the agenda, it is reviewed by all members in a plenary session. Debates on the content and purpose of the bill happen, and amendments may be made. 
  • First vote: After the plenary session, the bill can be tabled for an official vote. Occasionally, members will vote on each individual article and amendment in the bill, before then voting on the bill text as a whole.
  • Parliamentary shuttle: When the first chamber passes the bill, it then moves on to the other chamber. Typically, four weeks pass (though this can be shortened under what’s known as the accelerated procedure/la procédure accélérée) before it begins the same process, going through committee, a plenary session, and a vote. If no amendments are made, it then goes on to Adoption. If amendments are made, it then has to go back to the first chamber. This can be a lengthy back-and-forth process, though only the specific amendments are examined. If the two chambers are in too much of a disagreement, a joint committee (commission mixte paritaire) may be formed to come to a conclusion. Joint committees have seven members from the National Assembly, and seven Senators.
  • Adoption: After both chambers of Parliament have passed identical copies of the bill, the President has fifteen days to officially promulgate it, request a new review of the text, and/or consult with the Constitutional Council (Conseil constitutionnel) to ensure the bill is not contradictory with the Constitution. 
  • Journal Officiel de la République Française: Once promulgated, the bill is published in the Journal Officiel de la République Française and is officially implemented!
    • How Long Does It Take for a Bill to Pass?
  • The legislative process can vary in duration. Bills can be introduced and passed within a relatively short period, while others may take several months or even years to become law. It depends on the complexity of the bill, political considerations, and the level of support it receives from Members of Parliament.

    • Know Your Leaders

    Know Your Leaders.
  • Keep up to date with your leaders, their daily activities, and the daily activities of Parliament.
    • Is My Leader on a Key Committee or Target Group?
  • Engaging every Member of Parliament is important, but engaging with Members of Parliament in key positions is crucial for advancing poverty-reduction initiatives. If your leaders serve on the following committees or groups, it is important to mobilize support and contact them to express your advocacy for poverty-related legislation.
  • Commission des affaires étrangères: Members of the National Assembly on this committee handle many bills related to global poverty reduction and play a significant role in advancing them through the legislative process.
  • Commission des affaires étrangères, de la défense et des forces armées: Members of the Senate on this committee handle many bills related to global poverty reduction and play a significant role in advancing them through the legislative process.
  • Commission des finances (National Assembly): Members of the National Assembly on this committee determine the allocation of funding for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
  • Commission des finances (Senate): Members of the Senate on this committee determine the allocation of funding for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
  • Party Leadership: MPs in leadership positions have significant influence over parliamentary decisions, including the scheduling and prioritization of bills.
  • Caucuses, Associations, or Groups: Some MPs may be part of caucuses, associations, or groups that focus on poverty-related issues. Identifying these MPs and engaging with them can be instrumental in gaining support for poverty-reduction bills.
    • Are You a ‘Dual Constituent’?
  • Okay so we totally just made up the term ‘Dual Constituent,’ but we’re trying to find a way to describe people with ties to multiple circonscriptions, such as studying in a different area than where you grew up or where you live with your parents outside of the school year, it is essential to leverage this opportunity. As a ‘Dual Constituent,’ you can maximize your impact by contacting and engaging with leaders from all the circonscriptions to which you have connections.
    • A Borgen Project intern meeting an elected representative
    How Can I Influence My Leaders to Support Legislation That Improves Living Conditions for Millions of People?
  • You’ve come to the right place! Here are the key ways to make an impact:
  • Email your leaders to express support for key bills. Even a few seconds of your time can bring important issues to their attention.
  • Mobilize others to contact Parliament. Encourage friends, family, and community members to join in advocating for l’Aide publique au développement (APD) or poverty-reduction legislation. The more people who express support, the stronger the message becomes.
  • Engage in lobbying efforts. You don’t have to be an expert to meet with your elected officials. Communicate your passion for addressing global poverty and highlight key points about the APD or legislation you’re advocating for. Sending a thank-you email after the meeting is an opportunity to reinforce important information.
  • Utilize social media platforms. Members and their staff often monitor social media for constituent concerns and support. Tweeting or posting on Facebook about poverty-related issues can help raise awareness and gain attention from your leaders.
  • Remember, your individual efforts, multiplied by the engagement of others, can make a significant difference in influencing your leaders to support legislation that improves the lives of millions of people affected by poverty.