Legal System of France

France is located in Europe. It is geographically situated in metropolitan france: western europe, bordering the bay of biscay and english channel, between belgium and spain, southeast of the uk; bordering the mediterranean sea, between italy and spain

french guiana: northern south america, bordering the north atlantic ocean, between brazil and suriname

guadeloupe: caribbean, islands between the caribbean sea and the north atlantic ocean, southeast of puerto rico

martinique: caribbean, island between the caribbean sea and north atlantic ocean, north of trinidad and tobago

mayotte: southern indian ocean, island in the mozambique channel, about halfway between northern madagascar and northern mozambique

reunion: southern africa, island in the indian ocean, east of madagascar. The country achieved independence on no official date of independence: 486 (frankish tribes unified under merovingian kingship); 10 august 843 (western francia established from the division of the carolingian empire); 14 july 1789 (french monarchy overthrown); 22 september 1792 (first french republic established); 4 october 1958 (fifth french republic established). The capital is Paris.

Government Overview

Government Type: semi-presidential republic Chief of State: President Emmanuel MACRON (since 14 May 2017) Head of Government: Sébastien LECORNU (since 10 September 2025) Cabinet: Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister Administrative Divisions: 18 regions (régions, singular - région); Auvergne-Rhône-Alpes, Bourgogne-Franche-Comté, Bretagne (Brittany), Centre-Val de Loire (Center-Loire Valley), Corse (Corsica), Grand Est (Grand East), Guadeloupe, Guyane (French Guiana), Hauts-de-France (Upper France), Ile-de-France, Martinique, Mayotte, Normandie (Normandy), Nouvelle-Aquitaine (New Aquitaine), Occitanie (Occitania), Pays de la Loire (Lands of the Loire), Provence-Alpes-Côte d’Azur, Réunion National Holiday: Fête de la Fédération, 14 July (1790) Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Legal System

The legal system of France is described as civil law; review of administrative but not legislative acts International Law: has not submitted an ICJ jurisdiction declaration; accepts ICCt jurisdiction

Constitutional Framework

The constitution has the following history: many previous; latest effective 4 October 1958 Amendment Process: proposed by the president of the republic (upon recommendation of the prime minister and Parliament) or by Parliament; proposals submitted by Parliament members require passage by both houses followed by approval in a referendum; passage of proposals submitted by the government can bypass a referendum if submitted by the president to Parliament and passed by at least three-fifths majority vote by Parliament’s National Assembly

Judicial Branch

Highest Court(s): Court of Cassation or Cour de Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges organized into 6 divisions – 3 civil, 1 commercial, 1 labor, and 1 criminal); Constitutional Council (consists of 9 members) Judge Selection: Court of Cassation judges appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided over by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judges appointed for life; Constitutional Council has 3 members appointed by the president of the republic and 3 each by the National Assembly and Senate presidents; members serve 9-year, non-renewable terms with one third of the membership renewed every 3 years Subordinate Courts: appellate courts or cours d’appel; regional courts or tribunaux judiciaires; first instance courts or tribunaux de proximité; administrative courts

Legislative Branch

The legislative structure consists of bicameral Lower Chamber: National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) (577 (all directly elected) seats) Electoral System (Lower Chamber): plurality/majority Upper Chamber: Senate (Sénat)

Citizenship and Suffrage

Citizenship by Birth: no Citizenship by Descent: at least one parent must be a citizen of France Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Historical Background

France today is one of the most modern countries in the world and is a leader among European nations. It plays an influential global role as a permanent member of the United Nations Security Council, NATO, the G-7, the G-20, the EU, and other multilateral organizations. France rejoined NATO’s integrated military command structure in 2009, reversing then President Charles DE GAULLE’s 1966 decision to withdraw French forces from NATO.

This article provides a summary of the legal system and governmental structure of France based on the CIA World Factbook. The Factbook is a public domain publication of the United States Central Intelligence Agency.