Birth of 5th Rep (Important Dates) Flashcards
1958 (in general)
Algiers movement and putsch
Algerian war
in Paris, fear of a military coup
May 13, 1958
government dissolved
Pfimlin appointed and gains a vote of confidence
military coup in Algeria
May 15, 1958
de Gaulle states he is ready “to undertake the powers of the republic”
May 25, 1955
resolution to amend some articles of the constitution (including art 90)
May 29, 1958
René Coty (PR at the time) appoints de Gaulle and says if the NA doesn’t give him a vote of confidence, he will resign
June 3, 1958
constitutional law adopted by parliament saying that the constitution can be amended by overriding constitutional procedure
June 27, 1958
de Gaulle releases a statement expressing that previous governments were not able to ensure unity and independence
what was the cause of the collapse of the IV republic?
political instability and inefficiency with the practice of a double vote of confidence
relative majority voting no confidence will remove the government
political context of Algerian crisis and military insurrections in Algiers
how was the IV republic ended?
constitutional amendment/statute passed by the June 3 1958 bill will permit to derogate from the exacting process of art 90
it directly permits the government (as opposed to a constituent assembly) to draft a new constitutional text
elements of continuity vs elements of novelty in the Constitution of the V republic
parliamentary regime up until 1962
2 chambers of parliament (lower elected directly, upper by indirect suffrage) - NA can vote down the government
executive has 2 heads (PM and PR) - similar to the III and IV republics
primacy of the executive
realm of acts of parliament now defined and everything else is under the executive power
rationalisation of the parliament (strict regime for parliamentary sessions)
how was the constitution amended under the IV republic?
normal procedure in place through art 90 - normal procedure and then referendum (can be bypassed by getting 2/3 of NA or 3/5 of both houses)
in May 1955, resolution to amend articles of the constitution (recycled articles)
in July 1955, resolution adopted by the council of the republic
June 1, 1958
de Gaulle’s government took office
September 28, 1958
draft of the constitution passed in parliament and put to referendum
October 4, 1958
constitution promulgated
June 2, 1958
emergency powers (art 16) put into place by de Gaulle
