The president has the power to grant pardons on criminal convictions, prompting the release of prisoners or at least reducing their sentence. This also goes for figures including prefects, government advisors, ambassadors, the grand chancellor of the Légion d’honneur, judges, army officers and the heads of France’s gendarmerie. The president cannot refuse this promulgation, which is also countersigned by the prime minister and other ministers involved with the bill.Ĭhoosing ministers and other public figuresĪlthough the president has the power to appoint new ministers, this is often on the advice of the prime minister. They also promulgate laws in the 15 days after they have been definitively approved by Parliament. Presidents sign ordinances and decrees which have been examined by the Conseil des ministres. Powers shared with the prime minister and/or government They name three of the nine members of France’s highest constitutional authority, the Conseil constitutionnel. The French president is responsible for making sure that public powers work as they should and that the Constitution is respected, although they are also accorded a certain degree of personal interpretation. The first is a referendum for the adoption of a new law, which has happened nine times in the Fifth Republic period.Ī referendum may also be called so that the population can vote on changes to the Constitution. The president has the power to call a referendum for two different reasons. This would normally happen at the beginning of a president’s tenure, after legislative elections take place or under exceptional circumstances. However, they can call for parliamentarians to gather at Versailles for a presidential address, or ask a representative such as the prime minister to read a message to Parliament. They must inform the population of these measures in a message.įrance’s president does not have the right to enter the Assemblée nationale or Sénat chambers to address MPs or senators. In these circumstances, Article 16 of the Constitution may be applied and the president will have the power to impose exceptional measures to ensure that the nation’s institutions can carry out their duties. The president may place the country under emergency powers when the institutions of the Republic, the independence of the nation, the integrity of its territory or the fulfilment of its international commitments are under serious and immediate threat. The Assemblée nationale has been dissolved five times since 1958 four of those occasions resulted in victory for the incumbent president, with one leading to defeat. This allows the president to attempt to secure a parliamentary majority or to increase their majority. The president may dissolve the Assemblée nationale (National Assembly) following discussion with the prime minister and the assembly presidents, in order to resolve a crisis or stalemate.Ī general election should take place no less than 20 and no more than 40 days after this has been done. They also have the power to appoint judges. Functions, powers and dutiesĪrticle 64 of the French Constitution states that the president is “guarantor of the independence of judicial authority.”įor this, they are assisted by the Conseil supérieur de la magistrature. The French head of state has the power to approve – or not – the election of a new member to the Académie française, the highest institution of the French language. This relates to an area situated within the Loir-et-Cher department, which is home to a château placed under the “high protection” of the president of the Republic and the agriculture, culture and environment ministers. Protector of the Domaine national de Chambord Embrun Cathedral is in the department of Hautes-Alpes. This title was first accorded to Louis XIII and Charles de Gaulle was the last president to have claimed it.

Is the president commander in chief