Jonah Patel
The Constitution of France, also known as the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, was adopted on 4 October 1958 and has been amended twenty-five times since, most recently in 2024. It is the foundational text that organises the institutions of France and regards the separation of church and state, democracy, social welfare, and indivisibility as core principles of the French state. This raises the question: how many words are in this important document?
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of Promulgation | 4 October 1958 |
| Number of Amendments | 25 |
| Most Recent Amendment | 2024 |
| Current Republic | Fifth Republic |
| Previous Republic | Fourth Republic |
| Core Principles | Separation of Church and State, Democracy, Social Welfare, Indivisibility |
| Legislative Power | Bicameral Parliament (National Assembly and Senate) |
| National Assembly Members | Elected by Direct Suffrage |
| Senate Members | Elected by Indirect Suffrage |
| Executive Power | President |
| Judicial Power | Constitutional Court |
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The current French constitution
The constitution establishes France as a secular and democratic country, deriving its sovereignty from the people. It outlines the governing bodies and institutions of the country, including the French Parliament, which is bicameral in nature, consisting of the Assemblee Nationale (National Assembly) and the Senate. The executive branch includes the President, the Prime Minister, and the council of ministers with bureaucracies. The judiciary is an independent branch.
The French Constitution is unique in that it includes power-sharing as a key component. The parliament is responsible for creating laws, while the executive branch is responsible for executing them. This is outlined in Article 6 of the Declaration of the Rights of Man of 1789, which is recalled in the preamble of the current constitution. The constitution also allows for the ratification of international treaties, especially those related to the European Union.
The Fifth Republic replaced the Constitution of the Fourth Republic of 1946, which established a parliamentary monarchy. The current constitution regards the separation of church and state, democracy, social welfare, and indivisibility as core principles of the French state. It has been through many changes and modifications, including a significant amendment in 2000, when the president's term of office was shortened from seven years to five to coincide with the term of parliament.
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Amendments
The current French Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, was adopted on 4 October 1958. It has been amended 24 or 25 times since then, most recently in 2024.
The French Constitution has a long history of amendments, with 54 constitutional decisions made between 1958 and 1975, and over 200 in the following 15 years, from 1975 to 1990. Notable amendments include the Constitutional Law of 1 March 2005, which included provisions concerning the entry into force of the Treaty establishing a Constitution for Europe. However, this treaty was never ratified by France, and the relevant amendments never entered into force.
Another significant amendment occurred in 2000, when the Constitution was amended to shorten the president's term of office from seven years to five, coinciding with the term of parliament. In 2008, a constitutional amendment was adopted that created or amended 47 articles of the Constitution. This amendment guaranteed the right to abortion, describing it as a "guaranteed freedom".
The most recent amendment to the French Constitution took place in 2024, though the specific changes made are unclear.
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Word count
The current French constitution, also known as the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, contains 11,218 words. It was adopted on October 4, 1958, and has been amended twenty-five times since then, most recently in 2024. The constitution outlines the core principles of the French state, including the separation of church and state, democracy, social welfare, and indivisibility.
The French constitution has a long and complex history, with the country experimenting with various political regime types since the French Revolution. The Kingdom of France, under the Ancien Régime, was an absolute monarchy without a formal constitution, relying instead on custom and tradition. The Revolutionary Era saw the emergence of several constitutions, including the Constitution of 1791, which established a parliamentary monarchy.
The Constitution of 1958 replaced the Constitution of the Fourth Republic of 1946, with the exception of the preamble, per a 1971 decision of the Constitutional Council. Charles de Gaulle played a pivotal role in introducing this new constitution and inaugurating the Fifth Republic. De Gaulle favoured a powerful president and supported a particular interpretation of the constitution that aligned with this view.
The French constitution has undergone several amendments over the years to accommodate changes in government and society. For instance, in 2000, the constitution was amended to shorten the president's term of office from seven years to five, coinciding with the term of parliament. Additionally, the 2008 amendment addressed the modernisation of the institutions of the Fifth Republic.
The word count of the French constitution reflects the complexity and evolution of the country's political and legal landscape. The document's length ensures that various aspects of governance, power dynamics, and fundamental principles are thoroughly addressed, contributing to the stability and functioning of the French Republic.
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Core principles
The current French Constitution, which was adopted on 4 October 1958, is typically called the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. This constitution regards several principles as fundamental to the French state.
Firstly, the separation of church and state, or 'laïcité', is a core principle. This entails that churches are separate from the state, and freedom from religion is protected. Secondly, democracy is enshrined in the constitution, which stipulates that the parliament and government are elected by the people. The constitution also outlines power-sharing between the parliament and the executive branch. While the parliament is responsible for creating general laws, the executive can only make regulations regarding the application of these laws in practice. Thirdly, social welfare is a core principle, guaranteeing access to free public services for all. Indivisibility is another key principle, signifying that the French people are united in a single, sovereign country with one language – French – and that all citizens are equal.
The French Constitution also sets out methods for its own amendment. This can be done via a referendum or a parliamentary process with presidential consent. The standard procedure involves both houses of parliament adopting an amendment with identical wording, followed by approval from the Congress (a joint session of both houses) or a referendum. Alternatively, a three-fifths supermajority of the French Congress, a joint session of both houses, can approve the amendment.
The constitution has been amended twenty-five times since its inception, most recently in 2024. Notably, in 2000, the constitution was amended to shorten the president's term of office from seven years to five, aligning it with the term of parliament.
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History
The history of the French Constitution is a long and dynamic one, reflecting the country's evolution through various political regimes.
During the Kingdom of France under the Ancien Régime, the country was an absolute monarchy without a formal constitution, relying instead on custom and tradition. This changed with the French Revolution, which ushered in a period of constitutional experimentation. The Revolutionary Era saw the emergence of several constitutions, including the Constitution of 1791, which established a parliamentary monarchy. This was followed by the National Convention, which governed during the Reign of Terror, and the Directory, which was a more stable form of republican government.
The Napoleonic Era brought the Consulate and the First French Empire, with Napoleon as Emperor. This period saw the establishment of the Code Napoleon, which served as the foundation of civil law in France and influenced legal systems across Europe. The fall of Napoleon led to the restoration of the monarchy and the adoption of the Charter of 1814, which granted limited powers to the king while establishing a constitutional monarchy.
The July Revolution of 1830 overthrew the Bourbon monarchy and ushered in the July Monarchy, which lasted until the Revolution of 1848. This revolution led to the creation of the French Second Republic, which was governed by the Constitution of 1848. However, this republic was short-lived, as Napoleon's nephew, Louis-Napoleon Bonaparte, seized power and established the Second Empire in 1852.
The defeat of the Second Empire in the Franco-Prussian War led to the creation of the French Third Republic in 1870. This republic endured for several decades, with the Constitutional Act of 1874 playing a key role in defining the powers of the parliament and the executive branch. However, the Third Republic was marred by instability and internal divisions, leading to its collapse in the early years of World War II.
The post-war era saw the emergence of the French Fourth Republic, established by the Constitution of 1946. This constitution aimed to address the shortcomings of the previous republic but struggled with political instability and the legacy of the war. In 1958, Charles de Gaulle was called back from retirement to lead the country amid the Algerian War and played a pivotal role in introducing a new constitution, marking the beginning of the Fifth Republic.
The Constitution of 1958, also known as the Constitution of the Fifth Republic, remains the foundational text governing France today. It was approved by the people in a referendum on September 28, 1958, and officially promulgated on October 4 of that year. This constitution establishes core principles such as the separation of church and state, democracy, social welfare, and indivisibility. It has since been amended multiple times, including significant amendments in 2008 and 2024, to adapt to the evolving needs and aspirations of the French nation.
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