France

Senate

Parliament/Chamber has the power to summon members of the government: Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 24 and 51-2; Ordinance 58-1100 of 17 November 1958 Art. 6 II para. 3
Parliament/chamber has the power to summon senior government officials: Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 24 and 51-2; Ordinance 58-1100 of 17 November 1958 Art. 6 II para. 3
Parliament has the power to approve key government appointments: Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 13
Approximate number of government appointments subject to parliamentary approval: 16
Parliament/chamber has the power to approve key government appointments: Yes
Number of written questions asked, per year: 5,503

(2023)
Number of written questions answered by the government, per year: 5,678

(2023)
Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year: 103.2%

(2023)
Parliament/chamber has power to carry out inquiries: Yes

Sources: Constitution, art. 51-2
Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year: 4

(2023)

Notes: Number of commissions of inquiry and fact-finding missions that presented their conclusions during the year under review.

Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of Government: Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 8 and 49
The Head of Government is also the Head of State: No
Parliament’s role in the designation of the Head of State: Parliament does not play a role

Sources: Constitution, art. 6

Parliament is automatically dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: No
Chambers that can be dissolved when a motion of no confidence is adopted: Lower chamber

Notes: Constitution, art. 12

There is a procedure for parliament to dismiss or impeach the following persons/institution: The Head of Government

The Head of State

Individual members of the Executive
Chambers that play a role in the dismissal or impeachment: Lower chamber

Upper chamber

Sources: Constitution, art. 67-68, 68-1

There is a procedure for parliament to express no confidence in the following persons/institution: The whole Government

The Head of Government
Chambers that play a role in motions of no confidence: Lower chamber

Sources: Constitution, art. 49-50

Updated at	Number of written questions asked, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	5,503
2022-01	7,082
2021-01	6,194
2020-01	6,204
2019-01	5,285
2018-01	5,693
2017-01	4,156
2016-01	5,032
2015-01	5,154
2014-01	4,433
2013-01	6,023

Updated at	Number of written questions answered by the government, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	5,678
2022-01	3,700
2021-01	4,140
2020-01	3,823
2019-01	4,334
2018-01	4,859
2017-01	2,377
2016-01	3,993
2015-01	3,514
2014-01	3,555
2013-01	5,006

Updated at	Percentage of written questions answered by the government, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	103.2%
2022-01	52.2%
2021-01	66.8%
2020-01	61.6%
2019-01	82.0%
2018-01	85.4%
2017-01	57.2%
2016-01	79.4%
2015-01	68.2%
2014-01	80.2%
2013-01	83.1%

Updated at	Number of parliamentary inquiries, per year
2024-01	No information available
2023-01	4
2022-01	3
2021-01	9
2020-01	4
2019-01	3
2018-01	3
2017-01	4
2016-01	4
2015-01	7
2014-01	6
2013-01	6