Government of France

Government of the French Republic
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
Website	info.gouv.fr (in French)

The Government of France (French: Gouvernement français, pronounced [ɡuvɛʁnəmɑ̃ fʁɑ̃sɛ]), officially the Government of the French Republic (Gouvernement de la République française, [ɡuvɛʁnəmɑ̃ də la ʁepyblik fʁɑ̃sɛːz]), exercises executive power in France. It is composed of the prime minister, who is the head of government, as well as both senior and junior ministers.

The Council of Ministers, the main executive organ of the government, was established in the Constitution in 1958. Its members meet weekly at the Élysée Palace in Paris. The meetings are presided over by the president 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 following the recommendation of the prime minister, are responsible to the National Assembly, the lower house of the French Parliament. Cases of ministerial misconduct are tried before the Cour de Justice de la République.

Composition and formation

All members of the French government are appointed by the president of the Republic on the advice of the prime minister.^[2] Members of the government are ranked in a precise order, which is established at the time of government formation. In this hierarchy, the prime minister is the head of government. While the president is constitutionally free to appoint whomever they like, in practice, they must nominate a candidate that reflects the will of the majority of the National Assembly, as the government relies on the confidence of the French Parliament.^[3] After being nominated to lead a government, the prime minister nominee must propose a list of ministers to the president. The president can either accept or reject these proposed ministers. Ministers are ranked by importance:

Ministers of state (French: ministres d'État) are senior ministers and are members of the Council of Ministers. It is an honorary rank, granted to some Ministers as a sign of prestige.
Ministers (French: Ministres) are senior ministers and are members of the Council of Ministers. They lead government ministries.
Secretaries of state (French: secrétaires d'État) are junior ministers. This is the lowest rank in the French ministerial hierarchy. Secretaries work directly under a minister, or sometimes directly under the prime minister. While the Council of Ministers does not include secretaries of state as members, secretaries may attend meetings of the Council if their portfolio is up for discussion.

Functions

According to the Constitution of the French Fifth Republic, the government directs and decides the policy of the nation.^[4] In practice, the government writes bills to be introduced to parliament, and also writes and issues decrees. All political decisions made by the government must be registered in the government gazette.

Council of Ministers

The Council of Ministers (French: 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 minister, who was officially titled as the president of the Council of Ministers (French: président du Conseil des ministres) during the Third and Fourth Republics.^[5]

All bills and some decrees must be approved by the Council of Ministers. Furthermore, it is the Council of Ministers that defines the collective political and policy direction of the government, and takes practical steps to implement that direction. In addition to writing and implementing policy, the government is responsible for national defense, and directs the actions of the French Armed Forces.^[4] The workings of the government of France are based on the principle of collegiality.

Meetings of the Council of Ministers take place every Wednesday morning at the Élysée Palace. They are presided over by the president of the Republic, who promotes solidarity and collegiality amongst government ministers.^[6] These meetings follow a set format. In the first part of a meeting, the Council deliberates over general interest bills, ordinances, and decrees.^[7] In the second part, the Council discusses individual decisions by each minister regarding the appointment of senior civil servants. In the third part, usually, either one minister will give a presentation about some reform or project that they are directing, or the president will ask for advice on some subject from the ministers. In addition, the minister of foreign affairs provides the Council with weekly updates on important international issues.^[7]

Ministries

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" (French: Cabinet ministériel).^[8] 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.^[8] The hierarchy in each ministerial cabinet is determined by the minister. 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.^[9] Any decree must also seek the prime minister's advice as well.^[9]

Budget

The government is responsible for the economic and financial policy of the French Republic, must authorize all expenditures made by each ministry, and also manage all revenue. Expenditures are made through what is called a "finance law" (French: Loi des Finances), which is equivalent to an appropriation bill. Each minister must prepare a list of requests for funds annually, and submit it to the Budget Ministry. This ministry decides whether to grant or deny requests for funding by ministers. The ministry also calculates the state budget for the coming year. The parliament must vote on all applications of finance law.

Separation of powers

Members of the French government cannot occupy any parliamentary office or position of occupational or trade leadership at the national level, any public employment, or any professional activity.^[10]^[11] These restrictions are in place to alleviate external pressure and influence on ministers, and to enable them to focus on their governmental work. Thus, a member of the National Assembly or the Senate who is appointed to the government must resign his or her seat in order to serve as a minister or as the prime minister. Despite these restrictions, members of the government are allowed to keep local elected positions, such as those of city mayor or regional councilor. While the Constitution of the French Republic does not prohibit ministers from being the leader of a political party, it is customary that ministers should not occupy such a post.

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 censure.^[12] The government cannot function during the tenure of acting (interim) president, as that position is granted either to the president of the Senate or the prime minister, 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.^[13] The prime minister may convene parliament for extraordinary sessions, or add additional sitting days to the legislative calendar.^[14]

Current government

Ministries

The names of ministries change often in France. This is a list of current ministries:^[15]

References

^ "The State budget | Agence France Trésor".
^ Constitution of the French Republic (Title II, Article 8)
^ "France: The role of the president". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b Constitution of the French Republic (Title III, Article 20)
^ "A short guide to the French political system". 19 October 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.
^ Constitution of the French Republic (Title II, Article 9)
^ ^a ^b "How Government works". Government of France. Retrieved 6 December 2014.
^ ^a ^b A. Dutheillet de Lamothe (December 1965). "Ministerial Cabinets in France". Public Administration. 43 (4): 365–475. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9299.1965.tb01658.x.
^ ^a ^b Laver, Michael; Shepsle, Kenneth A., eds. (1994). Cabinet ministers and parliamentary government. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-43246-4. OCLC 29669008.
^ Constitution of the French Republic (Title III, Article 23)
^ https://franceintheus.org/IMG/pdf/legislative_elections.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}
^ Constitution of the French Republic (Title V, Article 49)
^ Constitution of the French Republic (Title V, Article 35)
^ Constitution of the French Republic (Title IV, Articles 28 and 29)
^ "Composition of the Government". Gouvernement.fr. Retrieved 17 September 2021.

External links

Official website (in French)

[1] "The State budget | Agence France Trésor".

[2] Constitution of the French Republic (Title II, Article 8)

[Bpr-3] "France: The role of the president". Encyclopædia Britannica. Encyclopædia Britannica Inc. 2014. Retrieved 6 December 2014.

[a20-4] Constitution of the French Republic (Title III, Article 20)

[ewe1-5] "A short guide to the French political system". 19 October 2014. Retrieved 5 December 2014.

[6] Constitution of the French Republic (Title II, Article 9)

[GFhgw-7] "How Government works". Government of France. Retrieved 6 December 2014.

[Minicab-8] A. Dutheillet de Lamothe (December 1965). "Ministerial Cabinets in France". Public Administration. 43 (4): 365–475. doi:10.1111/j.1467-9299.1965.tb01658.x.

[Cambridge_University_Press-9] Laver, Michael; Shepsle, Kenneth A., eds. (1994). Cabinet ministers and parliamentary government. Cambridge [England]: Cambridge University Press. ISBN 0-521-43246-4. OCLC 29669008.

[10] Constitution of the French Republic (Title III, Article 23)

[11] ttps://franceintheus.org/IMG/pdf/legislative_elections.pdf ^{[bare URL PDF]}

[12] Constitution of the French Republic (Title V, Article 49)

[13] Constitution of the French Republic (Title V, Article 35)

[14] Constitution of the French Republic (Title IV, Articles 28 and 29)

[15] "Composition of the Government". Gouvernement.fr. Retrieved 17 September 2021.

[1]

[2]

[3]

[4]

[5]

[6]

[7]

[8]

[9]

[10]

[11]

[12]

[13]

[14]

[15]

v t e Government of France
Head of government	Prime Minister
Ministerial portfolios	Europe and Foreign Affairs National Education, Youth and Sports Economy and Finance Armed Forces Interior Labour, Employment and Economic Inclusion Ecological Transition Territorial Cohesion and Relations with Local Authorities Justice Culture Overseas Solidarity and Health Sea Higher Education, Research and Innovation Agriculture and Food Public Transformation and Service Gender Equality, Diversity and Equal Opportunities
Former portfolios	Air Information Navy Police War

v t e Governments of France (1792–1870)
First Republic (1792–1804)	National Convention Committee of Public Safety French Directory French Consulate Paris Commune
First Empire (1804–14)	Napoleon Provisional Government of 1814 First restoration Hundred Days Provisional Government of 1815
Restoration (1814–30)	Talleyrand Richelieu (1) Dessolles Decazes Richelieu (2) Villèle Martignac Polignac Mortemart
July Monarchy (1830–48)	Paris Municipal Commission Provisional Ministry First ministry of Louis-Philippe Laffitte Casimir Perier Soult (1) Gérard Maret Mortier de Broglie Thiers (1) Molé (1) Molé (2) Transitional cabinet of 1839 Soult (2) Thiers (2) Soult (3) Guizot
Second Republic (1848–52)	Provisional Government Executive Commission Cavaignac Barrot (1) Barrot (2) Hautpoul Petit ministère Faucher Last cabinet of the French Second Republic Louis Napoleon (1) Louis Napoleon (2)
Second Empire (1852–70)	Third cabinet of Napoleon III Fourth cabinet of Napoleon III Ollivier Cousin-Montauban

v t e Governments of the French Third Republic (1870 – 1940)
Government of National Defense – Paris Commune
Adolphe Thiers	Dufaure I Dufaure II
Patrice de MacMahon	de Broglie I de Broglie II de Cissey Buffet Dufaure III Dufaure IV Simon de Broglie III de Rochebouët Dufaure V
Jules Grévy	Waddington de Freycinet I Ferry I Gambetta de Freycinet II Duclerc Fallières Ferry II Brisson I de Freycinet III Goblet Rouvier I
Sadi Carnot	Tirard I Floquet Tirard II de Freycinet IV Loubet Ribot I Ribot II Dupuy I Casimir-Perier Dupuy II
Jean Casimir-Perier	Dupuy III
Félix Faure	Ribot III Bourgeois Méline Brisson II Dupuy IV
Émile Loubet	Dupuy V Waldeck-Rousseau Combes Rouvier II
Armand Fallières	Rouvier III Sarrien Clemenceau I Briand I Briand II Monis Sarrien Poincaré I Briand III
Raymond Poincaré	Briand IV Barthou Doumergue I Ribot IV Viviani I Viviani II Briand V Briand VI Ribot V Painlevé I Clemenceau II Millerand I
Paul Deschanel	Millerand II
Alexandre Millerand	Leygues Briand VII Poincaré II Poincaré III François-Marsal
Gaston Doumergue	Herriot I Painlevé II Painlevé III Briand VIII Briand IX Briand X Herriot II Poincaré IV Poincaré V Briand XI Tardieu I Chautemps I Tardieu II Steeg Laval I
Paul Doumer	Laval II Laval III Tardieu III
Albert Lebrun	Herriot III Paul-Boncour Daladier I Sarraut I Chautemps II Daladier II Doumergue II Flandin I Bouisson Laval IV Sarraut II Blum I Chautemps III Chautemps IV Blum II Daladier III Daladier IV Daladier V Reynaud Pétain

v t e Governments of the French Fourth Republic (1946–1958)
Provisional Government (1944–1946)	De Gaulle I De Gaulle II Gouin Bidault I Blum III
Auriol (1947–1954)	Ramadier I Ramadier II Schuman I Marie Schuman II Queuille I Bidault II Bidault III Queuille II Pleven I Queuille III Pleven II Faure I Pinay Mayer Laniel I
Coty (1954–1958)	Laniel II Mendès France Faure II Mollet Bourgès-Maunoury Gaillard Pflimlin De Gaulle III

v t e Governments of the French Fifth Republic (1958–present)
Coty (1958–1959)	De Gaulle III
De Gaulle (1959–1969)	Debré Pompidou I Pompidou II Pompidou III Pompidou IV Couve de Murville
Pompidou (1969–1974)	Chaban-Delmas Messmer I Messmer II Messmer III
Giscard d'Estaing (1974–1981)	Chirac I Barre I Barre II Barre III
Mitterrand (1981–1995)	Mauroy I Mauroy II Mauroy III Fabius Chirac II Rocard I Rocard II Cresson Bérégovoy Balladur
Chirac (1995–2007)	Juppé I Juppé II Jospin Raffarin I Raffarin II Raffarin III Villepin
Sarkozy (2007–2012)	Fillon I Fillon II Fillon III
Hollande (2012–2017)	Ayrault I Ayrault II Valls I Valls II Cazeneuve
Macron (since 2017)	Philippe I Philippe II Castex Borne Attal Barnier Bayrou