Government of France: Difference between revisions

The '''government of France''' ([[French language|French]]: ''gouvernement français''), officially the '''Government of the French Republic''' ({{Lang|fr|Gouvernement de la République française}} {{IPA-fr|ɡuvɛʁnəmɑ̃ də la ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛːz|}}), exercises [[Executive (government)|executive power]] in [[France]]. It is composed of the [[Prime Minister of France|prime minister]], who is the [[head of government]], as well as both senior and junior [[Minister (government)|ministers]].<ref name="ewe1">{{cite web |url=http://www.rogerdarlington.me.uk/Frenchpoliticalsystem.html |title=A short guide to the French political system |date=19 October 2014 |access-date=5 December 2014}}</ref> The Council of Ministers, the main executive organ of the government, was established in the [[Constitution of France|Constitution]] in 1958. Its members meet weekly at the [[Élysée Palace]] in [[Paris]]. The meetings are presided over by the [[Presidentpresident of France]], the [[head of state]], although the officeholder is not a member of the government.

The government's most senior ministers are titled as ministers of state (''ministres d'État''), followed in protocol order by ministers (''ministres''), ministers delegate (''ministres délégués''), whereas junior ministers are titled as secretaries of state (''secrétaires d'État''). All members of the government, who are appointed by the [[President of France|Presidentpresident]] following the recommendation of the Primeprime Ministerminister, are responsible to the [[National Assembly (France)|National Assembly]], the [[lower house]] of the [[French Parliament]]. Cases of ministerial misconduct are tried before the ''[[Cour de Justice de la République]]''.

The Council of Ministers ({{lang-fr|Conseil des ministres}}) is established by the Constitution. It is composed only of the senior ministers, though some secretaries of state may attend Council meetings. The Council of Ministers is chaired by the president, unlike the government, but is still led by the prime Ministerminister, who was officially titled as the [[president of the Council of Ministers]] ({{lang-fr|président du Conseil des ministres}}) during the [[French Third Republic|Third]] and [[French Fourth Republic|Fourth Republics]].<ref name="ewe1" />

Most government work, however, is done elsewhere. Much of it is done by each individual ministry, under the direction of the minister responsible for that ministry. Ministers each have their own staff, called a "ministerial cabinet" ({{lang-fr|Cabinet ministériel}}).<ref name="Minicab">{{cite journal | title=Ministerial Cabinets in France | author=A. Dutheillet de Lamothe | journal=Public Administration |date=December 1965 | volume=43 | issue=4 | pages=365–475 | doi=10.1111/j.1467-9299.1965.tb01658.x}}</ref> Each ministerial cabinet consists of around ten to twenty members, who are political appointees. Cabinet members assist the minister in running a ministry. Members of ministerial cabinets are powerful figures within the government and work in both the political and administrative spheres.<ref name=" Minicab"/> The hierarchy in each ministerial cabinet is determined by the Ministerminister. Working groups consisting of representatives from several ministries are commonplace. It is the duty of the prime minister to oversee these inter-ministry meetings and to ensure that government work is done effectively and efficiently. All ministerial cabinet decisions must be co-signed by the prime minister.<ref name="Cambridge University Press">{{Cite book |url=https://www.worldcat.org/oclc/29669008 |title=Cabinet ministers and parliamentary government |date=1994 |publisher=Cambridge University Press |others=Michael Laver, Kenneth A. Shepsle |isbn=0-521-43246-4 |location=Cambridge [England] |oclc=29669008}}</ref> Any decree must also seek the prime minister's advice as well.<ref name="Cambridge University Press"/>

The government is responsible to the French Parliament. In particular, the government must assume responsibility for its actions before the National Assembly, and the National Assembly can dismiss the government with a [[Motion of no confidence|motion of censure]].<ref>[[Wikisource: Constitution of the Fifth French Republic#Title V: Relations between Parliament and Government|Constitution of the French Republic (Title V, Article 49)]]</ref> The government cannot function during the tenure of acting (interim) president, as that position is granted either to the [[List of presidents of the Senate of France|Presidentpresident of the Senate]] or the Primeprime Ministerminister, compromising [[separation of powers]]. If the government decides to launch an armed operation with a duration of longer than four months, it must first consult parliament and request an authorization.<ref>[[Wikisource: Constitution of the Fifth French Republic#Title V: Relations between Parliament and Government|Constitution of the French Republic (Title V, Article 35)]]</ref> The Primeprime Ministerminister may convene parliament for extraordinary sessions, or add additional sitting days to the legislative calendar.<ref>[[Wikisource: Constitution of the Fifth French Republic#Title IV: Parliament|Constitution of the French Republic (Title IV, Articles 28 and 29)]]</ref>