Introduction to Geography of France
France, or the French Republic, a country of western Europe. It is adjoined on the north and west by the Atlantic Ocean, including such arms as the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay, and on the south by the Mediterranean Sea. France shares land boundaries with Belgium, Luxembourg, Germany, Switzerland, Italy, Monaco, Spain, and Andorra. Across the English Channel and the Strait of Dover lies Great Britain.
France is the largest country in western Europe and the third largest on the continent, after Russia and Ukraine. Its area, including the island of Corsica, is 212,935 square miles (551,500 sq km). Maximum mainland dimensions are about 605 miles (975 km) north-south and 565 miles (910 km) east-west.
In addition to the mainland and Corsica, which make up Metropolitan France, the nation has a number of overseas departments and territories, most of which are small islands. A number of former French colonies, now independent, maintain close cultural and financial ties with France.
Few nations have contributed more to western civilization than France. Since the eighth century, when Charlemagne established his great empire, the area that is now France has played a major role in European political, cultural, and economic affairs. Through the centuries French statesmen, military leaders, philosophers, scientists, writers, artists, and musicians have left indelible marks. Paris, the French capital, was long recognized as the world center of art and learning and remains of outstanding significance today.
Physical Geography
France is the largest country in Western Europe.LandPlains and rolling hills are the most extensive landforms in France, covering about two-fifths of the country. They stretch in a broad arc from the Belgian border to the Pyrenees mountains and divide into two distinct regions—the Paris Basin and the Aquitaine Basin. Elevations are generally less than 700 feet (210 m).
The Paris Basin is a roughly circular area that occupies most of northern France and consists of flat to hilly terrain rising outward from the center in a series of scarps, or ridges. Paris is in this region, which is the most heavily populated and economically advanced part of the country.
The Aquitaine Basin, an undulating triangle-shaped lowland, is smaller and less hilly than the Paris Basin and covers the southwest. Bordering the Atlantic Ocean south of the Gironde estuary is a flat, sandy area, known as the Landes. Other lowlands include the western Mediterranean coast and the Rhône-Saône valley, the only north-south corridor in rugged eastern France.
Plateaus and uplands border the plains on the east and also form the peninsular areas of Brittany and Normandy in the northwest. The largest of these is the Massif Central, which occupies the south-central part of the country. The massif slopes gradually upward from the Paris and Aquitaine basins attaining general elevations of 2,500 to 3,000 feet (760 to 900 m). Considerably higher, reaching elevations of more than 6,000 feet (1,800 m), are the remnants of numerous ancient volcanoes, which rise abruptly from the surrounding landscape. Relatively steep escarpments mark the eastern and southern edges of the massif. Especially notable is the Cévennes, which forms a nearly sheer wall overlooking the lower Rhône valley.
The Armorican Massif covers much of Brittany and Normandy and consists of undulating to hilly terrain, with elevations rarely exceeding 1,000 feet (300 m). Among other prominent upland areas are the Vosges, a range of rounded hills near the German border that vary in height from 1,200 feet (365 m) to almost 4,700 feet (1,430 m), and a small section of the ancient, deeply eroded Ardennes plateau that extends into France from Belgium.
The high, snowcapped ranges of the Alps and the Pyrenees cover much of southern France. The Alps run along the Italian border and extend westward to the Rhône valley, with elevations generally increasing from south to north. A number of peaks exceed 12,000 feet (3,650 m) above sea level. Near the junction of the French, Swiss, and Italian frontiers stands 15,771–foot (4,807-m) Mont Blanc, the highest summit in western Europe. Majestic glaciers flank the slopes of some of the higher mountains. The most notable is Mer de Glace (Sea of Ice), on the northern slope of Mont Blanc. Alpine passes, including Little St. Bernard (7,178 feet [2,188 m]) and Mont Cenis (6,834 feet [2,083 m]), link Italy with France.
The Pyrenees rise abruptly from the plains of southern France and extend from the Bay of Biscay to the Mediterranean Sea, forming a lofty, rugged barrier between France and Spain. The range crests at elevations of more than 11,000 feet (3,350 m) just inside Spain.
North of the Alps, on the French-Swiss border, are the Jura Mountains. Although geologically related to the Alps, this range is much lower. It has relatively gentle slopes and rounded summits that rise less than 6,000 feet (1,800 m) above sea level.
WaterMost of France lies within the drainage basins of four major rivers—the Seine, Loire, Garonne, and Rhône. The Seine flows from uplands in Burgundy and Champagne to the English Channel and, with its tributaries, drains most of the Paris Basin. The rest of the plains and the Massif Central are drained primarily by the Loire and Garonne systems. The Loire crosses the country in a broad arc from headwaters in the Cévennes and empties into the Bay of Biscay at St-Nazaire. With a length of 625 miles (1,006 km), it is France's longest river. The Garonne, which begins in the Pyrenees, and tributaries flowing from the Massif Central form the chief river system of the Aquitaine Basin.
The Rhône River, which enters France from Switzerland, drains the Alpine region and is the only major French stream that empties into the Mediterranean Sea. The Rhône and its tributaries, including the Saône, Isère, and Durance, carry enormous volumes of water and have been dammed to provide hydroelectric power. Other significant rivers include the Meuse and Moselle, which begin in northeastern France and are part of the Rhine River system. The Rhine proper forms part of the French-German border.
France has no large natural lakes, but numerous small ones dot the Alpine region. Lakes have also been created by dams on the Rhone River system and in the Massif Central. Saltwater lagoons dot the Landes region and the Mediterranean coast.
ClimateMuch of France has an oceanic climate, similar to that of England and the northwest coast of the United States. In the Atlantic coastal regions winters are mild, with January temperatures averaging 40° to 45° F. (4° to 7° C.), and summers are cool, with July temperatures averaging 60° to 65° F. (16° to 18° C.). Drizzle, fog, and long periods of cloudiness are common, especially on the English Channel. Precipitation averages 30 to 40 inches (760 to 1,020 mm) annually. Virtually all of it comes as rain, fairly evenly distributed throughout the year.
Inland, particularly in eastern France, the seasons become more distinct. Generally, winters are colder and summers are warmer than near the coast. Precipitation averages about the same or somewhat less, but is more heavily concentrated in summer. Some snow falls in winter, especially in the Massif Central and the Vosges.
The Mediterranean coast has a mild climate, much like that of southern California. Temperatures average 45° to 50° F. (7° to 10° C.) in January and as much as 75° F. (24° C.) in July. There is much sunny weather. Rainfall, which totals 20 to 30 inches (510 to 760 mm) a year, comes mainly during the non-summer months. A cold, dry wind, called the mistral, blows down the Rhône valley in winter, sometimes causing damage to crops.
The Alps and the Pyrenees have severe winters, cool summers, and abundant rain and snow. The highest peaks are covered with ice and snow the year round.
Vegetation and WildlifeForests cover about one-fifth of France and are concentrated in the Massif Central, the Vosges, the Alps, and the Pyrenees. Deciduous trees, such as oak, beech, poplar, predominate at lower elevations. Conifers, chiefly pine and fir, grow on the mountain slopes. There are also pine forests in the Landes region. Maquis, a scrubby vegetation consisting of low evergreen shrubs and small trees, grows along the Mediterranean coast. Little natural vegetation remains on the French plains, which were cleared long ago for farming. Grasses and scattered woodlands occur in uncultivated areas.
Wildlife in France consists mainly of small mammals, such as foxes and hares, and a wide variety of birds. A few large animals, notably bears, chamois, and deer, survive in the more remote forest and mountain regions.
Economy
Since the end of World War II, France has been dramatically transformed from a war-torn country into a leading industrial nation. Between 1970-1980, economic growth was relatively steady, with the greatest gains occurring in manufacturing, construction, and 3 services. Since then, however, a rising rate of unemployment has slowed the country's economic growth.
Among the many factors that have contributed to France's prosperity are postwar reconstruction, aided initially by the United States through the Marshall Plan; a series of government-sponsored economic plans, between 1940-1950; and membership in the European Union (EU). Also contributing to French prosperity is the high level of its agricultural production.
The economic system of France is a mixture of private enterprise and government ownership, with most French businesses being privately owned. Among the government's diverse industrial and commercial activities are coal mining, petroleum production and refining, automobile and aircraft manufacturing, the production of electricity, rail and air transportation, banking, insurance, and broadcasting. Some industries have been totally nationalized.. Whenever the Conservatives have come into power, they have sought to increase private ownership and decrease government control and whenever the Socialists have come into power, they have sought to decrease government ownership.
As in most industrial nations, the private sector of the economy includes a relatively small number of large, highly diversified corporations and numerous small enterprises. Large companies predominate in heavy industries. Small-scale industries are particularly important in light manufacturing and commerce.
Northern and eastern France, especially the Paris Basin, have long been the most highly developed parts of the country. However, decentralization has received special priority in the government economic plans. The government has located state-owned industries in the more underdeveloped areas and has greatly improved transportation, communications, power facilities, and social services in these areas in order to attract private companies. During the last few decades of the 20th century, the economic predominance of the north and east slipped as the economy of southern France, especially along the Mediterranean coast, continued to grow.
ManufacturingFrance is one of the world’s leading manufacturing nations. Much of France's postwar prosperity is linked to the rapid growth of manufacturing, which normally employs about a fifth of the labor force and accounts for a similar share of the gross domestic product. Manufacturing also provides most of the nation's exports.
France's oldest and most important manufacturing areas are in and around Paris and cities along the Belgian border. However, such cities as Marseille, Lyon, Toulouse, and Bordeaux have grown tremendously as industrial centers since the mid 20th century. An outstanding example of development in outlying areas is the huge Fos-sur-Mer industrial complex at the mouth of the Rhône River, just west of Marseille.
France is a leading producer of automobiles in the world with brands such as Renault and Peugeot renowned throughout the world. The Paris Basin and near Lyon, Rennes, and Douai is the main center for the automotive industry. France is also renowned for the manufacture of the world’s fastest trains known as TGVs. The French aerospace industry is one of the most advanced in the world, with it being a world leader in the production of sophisticated military and commercial equipment, aerospace equipment, electronic defense systems, and many kinds of weapons, the launching of rockets and several communication satellites. It also has an expanding electronics industry that is chiefly noted for the manufacture of televisions, radios, computer and telephone equipment.
Its chemical industries produce a variety of industrial products from chemicals to medicines and cosmetics. French glass making and tyre manufacturing industries are also well known.
France is a world leader in the production of industrial machinery and its mechanical and engineering industries the most important in terms of production value and value added by manufacturing. From them come such diverse items as motor vehicles, aircraft and missiles, ships, electrical machinery, electronic equipment, machine tools, robotic equipment and industrial and agricultural machinery. The aluminum industry uses bauxite mined in France. Furniture, lumber, pulp and paper are made of both local and imported wood. Foremost among the basic metallurgical industries is the making of iron and steel, which is centered mainly in the northeast, from Dunkirk to the Moselle valley, and depends partly on local coal and iron ore.
The manufacturing of chemicals and petrochemicals is a major industry in France. It relies primarily on crude oil imported from the Middle East and North Africa and on domestically produced coal and natural gas. Petroleum refineries are concentrated in the coastal areas, especially around Marseille and Le Havre.
France has large, well-developed textile, clothing, leather goods, and cosmetics industries, which produce both luxury and utilitarian items for domestic use and export. Cotton, silk textiles, nylon and artificial fibers have long been France’s important textile products with Lyon being an important center for these products. Paris remains a leading world fashion center. Excellence in design and workmanship characterizes many handicraft items made in France. These include ceramics, glassware, and jewelry.
Food processing and the making of beverages is another industry for which France is renowned. French food like breads, meats, fruit preserves, sugars, wines and many types of cheese like Brie, Camembert, and Roquefort are famous. France is especially famous for its wine-making industry, which, in output, is rivaled only by that of Italy. French wines and cheeses are among the finest in the world.
ServicesAbout 70 per cent of France’s workforce is employed in services. Community, business, and personal services form the core of the service industry in France with 45 per cent of workers being employed by these industries. Education and health care, financial services, and transportation and communication are the main industries in this category.
The second most important service industry in terms of employment generation is the trade, restaurants, and hotels industry. This industry is greatly helped by the large number of tourists that visit France every year.
Government related activities ranks third in France’s service sector. This activity includes public administration and defense. Finance, insurance, and real estate; transportation and communication; and utilities are the remaining activities that come under the purview of the service sector.
AgricultureFrance is western Europe's leading agricultural country and has benefited greatly under the agricultural policy of the European Union. Agriculture employs about 5 per cent of the labor force, supplies virtually all the basic food required by the nation, and provides valuable exports. About 55 per cent of the land is used for farming, mostly for the production of crops.
Farms average about 70 acres (28 hectares) in size. Since World War II the farm population has declined while average farm size and mechanization have increased, resulting in more efficient farming and greater production. Almost all French farms have modern machinery and electric power.
About 45 per cent of farm income is derived from lmeat and diary animals. Beef cattle (including calves), lambs, sheep, hogs, butter, milk and cheese are the chief products. France is the EU's leading producer of beef and dairy products and exports substantial amounts to other member nations. Most of the output, however, is consumed within France. Large numbers of sheep and poultry are raised.
Cereals are widely grown on more than a third of France’s land. Wheat is the leading crop grown mainly on large farms in the Paris Basin and the north; potatoes and sugar beet, barley, corn, oats and rapeseed, which are used mainly for livestock feed, are also grown in large amounts. France is western Europe's largest producer and exporter of wheat, and accounts for about 40 per cent of the annual EU production. Sugar beets follow cereals in both acreage and production and are the chief industrial crop. Other important crops include oilseeds and flax.
Fruits and vegetables are grown in abundance. Wine grapes, partly from premier vineyards in the Bordeaux area and the regions of Burgundy and Champagne, Alsace, and the Loire Valley, are the most important fruit crop. The Mediterranean region produces grapes used in cheaper wines and grapes in southwestern France are used in making brandy. Other fruits and vegetables grown in large amounts include apples, peaches, pears, and melons, beans, carrots, cauliflower and tomatoes.
MiningThe mining of coal and iron ore are France’s most important mineral deposits. The majority of Iron ore comes from the Lorraine region and is used in the steel industry. Bauxite is found in southeastern France. Potash, a substance used in making fertilizers, is found in Alsace. Large quantities of natural gas have been discovered at Lacq, in southwestern France. However, as far as petroleum and natural gas are concerned, France remains heavily dependent on imports of these fuels. A variety of other minerals are produced, including zinc, gypsum, salt, sulfur, tungsten, and uranium..
Fishing and ForestryWith its nearly 2,000 miles (3,200 km) of coastline, France has long been a prominent fishing nation. It usually ranks among the top five nations in Europe in total catch, which consists chiefly of crabs, lobsters, monkfish, sardines, scallops, pollock, tuna, hake, whiting, cod, pilchard, haddock, mussels, and oysters. Much of the catch is sold fresh; the rest is cured, canned, or frozen, partly for export. The fishing fleet consists of both oceangoing and coastal vessels, which operate mainly out of ports on the English Channel and the Bay of Biscay, Brittany and Normandy and the waters of Iceland and Newfoundland.
Forests cover about a fourth of France with the Northeastern Plateaus, the Central Highlands, the southwest coastal areas, and the slopes of the Alps, Juras, Pyrenees, and Vosges being some of France’s heavily forested areas. The Landes area of southwestern France is the chief source for much of the pulp and paper used in France. The nation is a major European producer of lumber and wood products. Cork, oaks, olive trees, and pine trees, ashes, beeches, and cypresses are some of the trees that grow in forested areas in France.
TransportationFrance has a modern, well-developed transportation system that is centered primarily on Paris. It has a fine highway system with many multilane expressways. It also has two of the world’s longest highway tunnels cutting through Mount Blanc and Frejus Peak connecting it to Italy. The government owned and operated French National Railways system is one of the most modern and efficient rail systems in the world. TGV trains—high-speed trains that began operating in the first part of the second-last decade of the 20th century—are among the fastest trains in the world, averaging about 200 miles per hour (300 km/h). Ferries transport passengers and automobiles across the English Channel. The Channel Tunnel (opened in 1994), also known as the Chunnel, provides a rail link between Calais, France, and Folkestone, England.
France's primary and secondary roads link virtually all cities and towns. Modern superhighways connect the major cities of France.
Marseille and Le Havre are the largest of many excellent seaports in France and together handle much of the nation's oceanborne foreign trade. Other prominent ports include Dunkirk, Rouen, Nantes-St-Nazaire, and Bordeaux. Ships and barges operate on navigable rivers and canals throughout France. These rivers include the Rhine, Rhone, and Seine. Northern and eastern France have well-developed canal systems.
Air France, which provides both domestic and worldwide service, is the French national airline and one of the largest airlines in the world. There are also several privately owned carriers. Scores of foreign airlines serve France, chiefly through two international airports at Paris known as Charles de Gaulle and Orly. Other airports are located at Marseille, Nice, and Lyon.
CommunicationsBroadcasting and mass media were for long the monopoly of government-owned companies. Since the late 20th century, however, the government has allowed private radio and television stations to compete with government-owned broadcasting companies. France has several radio and television networks, most of which are operated by government agencies. More than 80 daily newspapers and thousands of periodicals and weekly newspapers are published in France. representing a wide range of political opinions. Ouest-France of Rennes is the largest and most well known newspaper and comprises of 45 different editions, each with local news. Le Figaro, France-Soir, Le Monde, Liberation, and Le Parisien Libere of Paris; Sud-Ouest of Bordeaux; La Voix du Nord of Lille; Le Progres of Lyon; Le Provencal of Marseille; and Le Dauphine Libere of Grenoble are other major dailies. L'Express and Le Nouvel Observateur are two of the most widely read weekly magazines. The motion picture industry is regulated by a government agency which provides financial aid to film producers. The Cannes film Festival, an annual event, is the world’s largest international film event.
TradeFrance relies increasingly on a large volume of foreign trade to sustain its economic growth and rising standard of living. The nation imports mainly machinery, crude petroleum, chemicals, automobiles, iron and steel, nonferrous metals, and such foods as meats, fruits, and vegetables. Leading exports include chemical products, electrical equipment, machinery, automobiles, aircraft, iron and steel products, textiles, clothing, cereals, and wine. The EU countries, especially Germany and Italy, are France's most important trading partners, accounting for about 60 per cent of the nation's foreign trade by value. The European Union (EU) is an organization of European nations that aims to promote political and economic cooperation among its members. Other major trading partners include the United States, Japan, and Switzerland.
TourismFrance's great historic, cultural, and scenic attractions have long made it a leading tourist destination. Millions of foreigners visit each year, and growing numbers of French travelers also contribute significantly to tourist revenues. Paris is the leading attraction for foreign visitors. Prominent resort areas include the Riviera and the Alps.
CurrencyFrance's basic currency unit is the euro, which replaced the franc in 2001.
The People
Among the ancestors of the French are many different Indo-European peoples. In ancient times Ligurians and Iberians lived in the south. Phoenicians and Greeks had colonies on the Mediterranean coast. Celtic peoples spread across the country from the east in the ninth century B.C. They were known as Gauls by the Romans, who conquered? them but made little attempt to settle among! them. The Romans were driven out by Germanic peoples, one of whom—the Franks—unified the country. Later Germanic invaders were the Norsemen, who came in the ninth century A.D. and eventually were given a region (Normandy) for themselves.
PopulationAccording to the census in 1999, France had a population of 58,-520,688. The population density was 275 persons per square mile (106 per km 2), almost four times that of the United States but relatively low for a country of western Europe. About three-fourths of the people live in urban areas.
Language and EducationFrench is the language spoken by the majority of the people. There are two major dialects— langue d'oil, spoken north of the Loire River, and langue d'oc, spoken in the south. French is a Romance language, one that is derived from Latin. Breton (of Celtic origin) is spoken in parts of Brittany. The Basques, who live on the northern slopes of the Pyrenees, speak a language believed to be unrelated to any other.
Education is compulsory from age 6 to 16 and is free within the public school system. However, nearly 20 per cent of elementary grade children attend private schools, mainly Roman Catholic parochial schools. Private schools are regulated by the government and are eligible for government financial aid.
Elementary schools have five grades. Pupils then proceed to secondary schools. The first stage of secondary education lasts four years and is the same for all students. At the age of 15, students may choose either a three-year academic program or a two-year program emphasizing vocational education. The academic course leads to the baccalaureate examination, which a student must pass to attend a university.
Higher education is largely free in France's many national universities, colleges, and specialized institutions. The oldest and largest is the University of Paris (founded in the 12th century), which now consists of 13 separate units located in Paris and its suburbs.
Among the various specialized institutions are the prestigious grandes ecoles. These schools offer two to four years of intensive professional education. Graduates of the grandes écoles traditionally have occupied many high-level government positions.
There are also private institutions of higher education.
ReligionThere is separation of church and state and full freedom of religion. A majority of the people are Roman Catholics. About four per cent, mainly immigrants from North Africa, are Muslims; about two per cent are Protestants; and about one per cent are Jews.
CultureFrance has long held a unique position in the culture of the western world. As early as the 12th century Paris was the greatest teaching center in Europe, producing philosophers, scientists, and men of letters. Scholars and poets were befriended by the crown. Magnificent Gothic cathedrals were being erected.
In the 17th century René Descartes and Blaise Pascal distinguished themselves in mathematics and science. French drama reached a high point of brilliance with the tragedies of Jean Baptiste Racine and the comedies of Moliére. Jean Baptiste Lully established French opera and introduced ballet into opera. The French court set the fashions for all Europe in furniture, decorative arts, and dress.
French philosophic writers Voltaire, Denis Diderot, and Jean Jacques Rousseau helped set the pattern of 18th-century thinking that led to both the American and French revolutions. France in the 19th century produced the literary giants Victor Hugo, Alexandre Dumas the Elder and the Younger, Honoré de Balzac, Gustave Flaubert, Alphonse Daudet, Émile Zola, and Guy de Maupassant. Major scientific discoveries were made by Louis Pasteur and by Pierre and Marie Curie. French Impressionist painters such as Édouard Manet, Pierre Renoir, H. G. E. Degas, and Claude Monet started a new trend in art. César Franck, Claude Debussy, and Maurice Ravel did the same in music.
By the 20th century France was recognized as the cultural leader of the world, and Paris as the center of art. Musicians, painters, and writers came from everywhere to learn and to practice their crafts in Paris, the “City of Light.” By the middle of the century, France's leadership was challenged by artistic and intellectual development in other countries, but French culture continued to have worldwide influence. Major figures of the 20th century include the authors Jean-Paul Sartre, noted for his existentialist writing; Albert Camus, who developed the literary concept of absurdity; and Jean Cocteau, a leader of the Surrealist movement. The works of the artist Marc Chagall, the architect Le Corbusier, and the film director Jean Renoir achieved international influence.
Institutions and BuildingsOne of the outstanding museums in the world is the Louvre, in Paris, with the largest art collection in existence. Important libraries include the Bibliothèque Nationale de France and the libraries of the Universities of Paris. The Sorbonne, consisting of two of the Universities of Paris, dates from the 1200's and is recognized as one of the world's greatest centers of higher learning. Leading French theaters are subsidized by the government. These include the Paris Opera, Opéra Comique, Opera Ballet, Comédie Française, and Théâtre Nationale Populaire.
Maisons de la Culture (Cultural Houses) are operated by communities throughout the country. They offer drama, dance presentations, and concerts, and sponsor various kinds of exhibits.
Recreation and SportsPlays, operas, ballet, and motion pictures are well attended in France. So also are art exhibits and concerts. Card games and chess are popular.
There are many public holidays in France, both religious festivals and celebrations of historic events. The French enjoy getting into the country, where a favorite activity is camping. Most large towns maintain camping grounds.
Among spectator sports the most popular is the month-long bicycle race called the “Tour de France.” The 24-hour endurance race for sports cars held near LeMans is also a major event. The favorite team sport is soccer. Active participant sports such as cycling; swimming, skiing, tennis, and team games are popular. The government encourages physical exercise by providing sports equipment and facilities.
Government
France is a parliamentary democracy with a national government. The current government, called the Fifth Republic, has been around since 1958, when its constitution was adopted. The government combines elements of the presidential and parliamentary systems.
National GovernmentFrance’s national government has three branches: an executive branch headed by a President and a Prime Minister, a legislative branch consisting of Parliament and a judicial branch, or system of courts.
The PresidentThe President is the head of state and, along with the prime minister, holds executive authority. Other major responsibilities include acting as commander-in-chief of the armed forces, being a member of the Constitutional Council, managing the countries foreign affairs, and presiding over the cabinet ministers. The president is elected by an absolute majority of votes, cast by direct universal suffrage, and is eligible for reelection. Up until the 1995 election, presidents were elected for a seven-year term. Beginning in 2002, presidents serve a five-year term.
The president appoints the prime minister and the council of ministers and has the power to dissolve the national assembly (the lower house of parliament) and the right to assume virtually dictatorial powers in the event of national emergency. The president has no power of veto, but may ask parliament to reconsider a bill or may submit certain bills to a national referendum. The president negotiates and ratifies treaties, signs government decrees, and makes military appointments.
The Prime MinisterAlthough appointed by the president, the prime minister is responsible only to the national assembly. The prime minister directs the operation of the government and advises the president. Assisted by other cabinet ministers, the prime minister formulates national policy, executes the laws, and is responsible for national defense. The prime minister may introduce bills in parliament and may take legislative action in financial matters if parliament is unable to reach a decision on finance bills. The government, made up of the prime minister and cabinet, can be forced to resign only when a motion of censure is passed by a majority of the national assembly.
ParliamentThe parliament consists of two houses: the national assembly, whose members are elected by direct vote to five-year terms, and the senate, whose members are indirectly elected to nine-year terms. One-third of the senate is chosen every three years. Overseas departments and territories are represented in both houses. The president of the senate succeeds to the national presidency if it becomes vacant, remaining in office until new elections can be held.
Parliament's legislative powers are limited to certain matters specified by the constitution. Other legislative matters are handled by government decree. Parliament, however, may broaden its powers by passing organic laws (which alter the constitution). Both chambers can initiate legislation, except that financial and organic legislation cannot originate in the senate.
If there is a disagreement between the two houses, the prime minister may ask the national assembly to give the final ruling. Parliament has the authority to declare war. Sessions of parliament are limited to two a year, totaling not more than five and one-half months in duration. Special sessions may be called by the prime minister or by a majority of the national assembly.
Local GovernmentThe basic unit of local government in France is the Commune. In total, there are about 36,500 communes in France, which vary in size from small villages to large cities. Each commune is governed by a mayor and a local council. Mainland France (France proper and the island of Corsica) is divided into 96 metropolitan departments, each with an appointed commissioner, who represents the central government, and is elected by the general council. The departments are grouped into 22 administrative regions. Each region has a regional council, elected by the people, and a president, who is elected by the council members. For administrative purposes, each department is divided into districts, or arrondissements, which are further divided into cantons. The commune is the smallest unit of local government. It may vary in size from a small village to a large town or city. Each commune is governed by an elected municipal council, presided over by a mayor.
France has about 9 inhabited overseas territories, which are remnants of its colonial past. Guadeloupe and Martinique, both in the West Indies; Reunion and Mayotte, both in the Indian Ocean; New Caledonia, French Polynesia, and the Wallis and Futuna Islands, all in the South Pacific Ocean; French Guiana in South America; and Saint-Pierre and Miquelon in the North Atlantic Ocean constitute these 9 and are considered integral parts of France as they vote to choose France’s President and send representatives to both houses of parliament.
PoliticsFrance has several political parties with the leading one being the Union for a Popular Movement (UMP). Several conservative parties, including the Rally for the Republic and the Union for French Democracy merged to form it. It supports a strong national government, independent foreign policy, free-market policies and reducing government regulation of business.
Another leading party is the extremely conservative National Party. It opposes immigration and favors the death penalty. The National Republican Movement, which is another party which split from it, is known to hold similar views. The Socialist Party and the French Communist Party are known to hold liberal or radical views. Both, in theory at least, support public ownership or control of most of the nation's factories, machines, and other basic means of production and strong, government-financed social security and medical benefits. However, both have been known to co-operate with the private sector.
Traditionally, men have come to dominate French politics. However, in 2001, a law was passed by Parliament requiring political parties to nominate as many women as men, as candidates in most elections.
JusticeThe judicial system is divided into two sections. Ordinary courts handle civil and criminal cases, and administrative courts handle cases concerning the government. Appeals for civil and criminal cases may be taken to Courts of Appeal. The Courts of Assizes hear cases relating to violent and serious crimes. The decisions of both these courts are final. The Court of Cassation, which is the the highest court in France, may review matters from most courts. It can return cases to the lower courts for new trials.
The president of the republic presides over the High Council of the Judiciary, a disciplinary body for magistrates (judges). A minister of Justice controls the appointment and removal of Judges. Magistrates, however, may not be removed from office. They usually serve for life.
Constitutional CouncilThe council oversees national elections and referendums and examines the constitutionality of laws and government decrees. Its decisions cannot be appealed. Former presidents are life members and nine other members are appointed by the president and the parliament for nine-year terms.
Armed ForcesThe president of the republic is the commander-in-chief of the armed forces. Defense policy is carried out by the minister of defense, who is under the authority of the prime minister. The armed forces consist of an army, navy, and air force, which have a combined strength of 400,000 men and women. Military service in France is voluntary.