The Parliament
Parliament (Paris)
MAEE, F. de La Mure
Parliament is made up of two assemblies:
- The Senate - elected by indirect universal suffrage for a six-year term (reduced from nine years in 2003), is renewable by one-third every three years and as of 2011, will be renewable by one-half. The last election took place in September 2004.
- The National Assembly's members (deputies) are elected by direct universal suffrage for a five-year term. The most recent general election was held in June 2007.
The two assemblies supervise the Government and pass legislation. In the event of disagreement on a law, the National Assembly makes the final decision.
The Senate
Senate (Palais de Luxembourg), Paris
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, Y-J Chen
The Senate has 331 senators (343 as of September 2009) affiliated with the following groups since the September 2004 election:
- Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) group: 158
- Socialist group: 96
- Union centriste group: 30
- Communiste, républicain et citoyen group: 23
- Rassemblement Démocratique et Social Européen (RDSE) group: 16
- Non-affiliated: 7
The National Assembly
Parliament (Palais Bourbon hemicycle) : oral questions to the government
Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs, F. de la Mure
The National Assembly is made up of 577 deputies affiliated with the following groups since the general election of 10 and 17 June 2007:
- Union pour un Mouvement Populaire (UMP) group: 314 (plus 6 allied)
- Socialiste, Radical et Citoyen group: 186 (plus 18 allied)
- Gauche démocrate et républicaine group : 24 (+ 0 allied)
- Nouveau centre group : 20 (+ 2 allied)
- Non-affiliated: 7
www.assemblee-nationale.fr (EN)
- Sources: Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs
- Updated: 25.06.2008
