France

Senate

Political system
Presidential-Parliamentary
Structure of parliament
Bicameral
IPU membership
Yes

Law-making

Data on parliament’s law-making role and activities

Legislative activity

Number of laws adopted by parliament, per year
76
(2023)
Total number of laws adopted by Parliament in the previous legislature
197
(2020-10 - 2020-11)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by parliament
55
(2020-10 - 2020-11)
Number of laws adopted in the previous legislature that were initiated by the government
142
(2020-10 - 2020-11)
Percentage of laws initiated by parliament in the previous legislature
28%
(2020-10 - 2020-11)
Dates of the previous legislature
02 Oct 2017 to 30 Sep 2020
(2020-10 - 2020-11)
Outcome when the two chambers cannot agree on a piece of draft legislation
Other

Notes: The expression "navette parlementaire" commonly refers to the transmission and successive examination of a bill or a proposed law by the National Assembly and the Senate with a view to achieving adoption in identical terms by both chambers within the framework of the legislative procedure. In principle, this continues as long as there is disagreement between the two chambers on all or part of the text. Cases of persistent disagreement can be resolved by convening a joint committee (CMP) made up of deputies and senators, in accordance with the provisions of Article 45(2) of the Constitution. In the event that it is impossible to achieve the adoption of the text in identical terms -- the National Assembly has the final say.

Sources: Constitution, art. 45

Executive-legislative relations

Legislation adopted by parliament requires the assent of the Head of State
Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 10

Number of times the Head of State declined to give assent to legislation, per year
Not applicable
(2023)
Consequences when the Head of State declines to give assent to legislation
Not applicable

Notes: The President of the Republic must promulgate Acts of Parliament within fifteen days following the final passage of an Act and its transmission to the Government, but may, before the expiry of this time limit, ask Parliament to reopen debate on the Act or any sections thereof. Such reopening of debate cannot be refused.

Sources: Constitution, art. 10

Final decision when parliament and the Head of State do not agree
Not applicable

Existence of a procedure to introduce emergency legislation

There is a procedure for introducing emergency legislation into parliament
Yes
Number of times the procedure for emergency legislation was used, per year
44

Historical data for IPU membership

Historical data for IPU membership
Year IPU membership
2020-09
List of values for 2020-09
No
2019-04
List of values for 2019-04
No
2018-06
List of values for 2018-06
No