Case Studies Flashcards
Political Parties of France
Multi-Party System
Right-wing
National Rally (Rassemblement National; RN): nationalism, conservatism, euro-scepticism. (Marie Le Pen)
The Republicans (Les Républicains; LR) - Promotes conservatism, liberal-conservatism and nationalism. Replaced the Union for a Popular Movement (Union pour un mouvement populaire) in 2015. (Gaullian)
Centrist
La République En Marche! - Promotes neoliberalism, economic liberalism, centrism, and pro-Europeanism. (Macron)
Left-wing
Socialist Party (Parti Socialiste) - Promotes social democracy.
French Election System
Plurality-majority with second ballot syste,
French Election Cycles
Most elections (presidential, national assembly [lower house of parliament], and European parliament) tend to be every 5 years with presidential elections having highest turnout
French Executive
Semi Presidential System
Power is shared between PM of Parliament and the President
French Legislative
The French Parliament is the bicameral legislature of the French Republic, consisting of the Senate and the National Assembly.
Senate voting system = Indirect election (for a 6 year term)
National Assembly voting system = First-past-the-post voting (577 seats, two-round system)
French Judiciary
The courts in France divided into two parts - the judicial courts (those dealing with criminal and civil laws), and the administrative courts.
There is a third unique aspect of the judiciary in France - the Constitutional Council. This branch oversees review of statutes before they are enacted as well as overseeing national elections and answering questions from citizens regarding the constitutionality of laws.
The CCouncil is made up of nine members. Three are appointed by the president, three by the head of the National Assembly, and three by the head of the Senate.
Notable Key Events France
1789 The French Revolution
The wealth of church is given to the nation 2nd November
1792 1st Republic
1848 The 2nd Republic
1871 The 3rd Republic
1905 The law separates the state from the church
1944 - 1946 Charles De Gaulle
1944 France finally gives women the right to vote.
1947 The 4th Republic
1957 France joins the EEC
1959 The 5th Republic and Charles de Gaulle
2001 Constitution is changed, the President is elected for 5 years (7 years before)
2007 Nicolas Sarkozy
2012 Francois Hollande
2017 May 7th Emmanuel Macron elected as the 8th President of the 5th French Republic
French Welfare State
The origin of social protection in France dates back to medieval times, with fraternal benefit societies.
In the second half of the 1800s, systems of social assistance developed gradually, often launched by employers marked by social Catholicism, then relayed by the first laws.
In 1930, modern social insurance was created, offering employees protection against certain risks: accidents, sickness, disability, maternity, old age, death
During the Second World War, the National Council of Resistance designed the system of social security, now at the heart of social protection. It was created just after the Liberation, by an order of 4 October 1945, followed by other texts.
Gradually, protection has covered the entire population, while the benefits extend.
