THE NATIONAL ASSEMBLY IN THE FRENCH INSTITUTIONS

General Points

• General Presentation of French Political Institutions
• The President of the Republic
• The Government
• The National Assembly and the Senate – General Characteristics of the Parliament
• The Constitutional Council
• The Conseil d’État (Council of State)
• The Judicial Authority: The Ordinary Court System and the Court of Cassation (Final Court of Appeal)
• The Court of Auditors
• The Economic and Social Council
• The Ombudsman of the Republic
• Equal Access for Women and Men to Elected Offices and Positions

The Member of Parliament (M.P.)

• The Election of an M.P
• The Financing of Political Life: Political Parties and Election Campaigns
• Status of the M.P.
• The M.P.'s Material Position
• Arrival and Reception of M.P.s

The Organs of the National Assembly

• The President of the National Assembly
• The Bureau of the National Assembly
• The Questeurs
• Political Groups
• Standing Committees

The Organisation of the Work of the National Assembly

• The Rhythm of Sessions and Sittings
• The Setting of the Agenda and the Conference of Presidents
• The Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament
• The General Secretariat of the Government
• The Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly

The functions of the National Assembly

The Legislative Functions

• The Law: Expression of the Legislative Power of Parliament
• The Legislative Field
• The Legislative Procedure
• Government’s Right to Initiate Legislation
• Parliament’s Right to Initiate Legislation
• The Examination of Bills in Committee
• The Plenary Sitting
• The President’s File, the Case of a Legislative File
• The Use of the Right to Amend
• Financial Inadmissibility: Article 40 of the Constitution
• Monitoring the Constitutionality of Laws
• The Parliamentary Examination of Finance Laws
• The Parliamentary Examination of Social Security Finance Laws
• The Ratification of Treaties
• The Revision of the Constitution and the Congress
• Votes at the National Assembly

The Monitoring and Information Functions

• Making Government Accountability an Issue of Confidence
• The Role of Standing Committees in the Monitoring of Government
• Committees of Inquiry  and Fact-finding Missions Set Up by the Conference of Presidents
• Assessment and Monitoring Missions
• Questions
• The Monitoring of the Implementation of Laws
• Parliamentary Offices
• Parliamentary Delegations
• The Role of the Opposition

Translated by Declan Mc Cavana

The National Assembly and the European Union

• The National Assembly and the Formulation of European Instrument
• The Delegation for the European Union

Inter-parliamentary Relations

• Inter-parliamentary Cooperation
• Friendship Groups
• The Participation of the National Assembly in International Institutions

Communication

• Communication at the National Assembly
• Press Relations
• The Internet Site of the National Assembly
• The Parliamentary Television Channel (LCP-Assemblée nationale and Public Sénat)
• The Children’s Parliament

The Administration of the National Assembly

• The Status of Civil Servants of the National Assembly
• The Administration of the National Assembly: Structures, Size and Branches
• The Secretaries General
• The Budget  of the National Assembly
• The Drawing-up, Examination and Approval of Decisions by the Questeurs
• The Table Office
• The “Operational Poles”
• The Communication and Multimedia Information Department
• The Library Department
• The Report Departments
• The Personnel Department
• Information Technology at the National Assembly
• Security at the National Assembly
• The Archives and Parliamentary Historical Research Department
• The Protocol Unit

Other Support Structures for Parliamentary Activity

• The Secretariats of Political Groups
• Parliamentary Assistants (or M.P.s' secretaries)

Glossary of parliamentary terms

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See also :

• The Constitution of  October 4, 1958
• Rules of  Procedure of  the National Assembly (November 2006)

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