In the Constitution

Powers and remits

6 questions about
the President

A distinction is made between powers exercised exclusively by the French President, and powers shared with other organs. The latter require countersignature by one or more ministers.

A - Exclusive powers

- Appointment of Prime Minister (>> art.8 of the French Constitution).
- Recourse to referendum (>> art.11) on the proposal of
the Government or on the joint proposal of the two Assemblies.
- The right to dissolve the National Assembly (>> art.12).
- Implementation of special powers under article 16.
- The right to deliver messages to the parliamentary assemblies (>> art.18).
- Appointment of three members to the Constitutional Council, including its President, (art.56).
- The right of referral to the Constitutional Council (>> art.54 et >> 61).

B - The other powers of the French President must be countersigned by the Prime Minister and, where required, by the appropriate ministers (>> art.19):

- The French President has the power to make regulations.
- He appoints ministers and terminates their
appointment (>> art.8), on the proposal of the Prime Minister.
- He signs the ordinances and decrees deliberated upon in the Council of Ministers (>> art.13).
- He makes appointments to the civil and military posts of the State (>> art.13). Article 13 lists the appointments which must be made by the Council of Ministers and refers to an institutional Act.
- He may call an extraordinary session of Parliament at the request of the Government or of a majority of deputies (>> art.30).
- He has the right to grant pardon (>> art.17).
- The French President appoints ambassadors (>> art.14).
- He negotiates and ratifies treaties (>> art.52).
- The French President has the duty to promulgate Acts of Parliament within fifteen days following the final adoption of an Act and its transmission to the Government. Before the expiry of this time limit, he may ask Parliament to reconsider the Act or certain of its sections. This reconsideration may not be refused (>> art.10).

C - The French President chairs certain organs of State

- He chairs the Council of Ministers (>> art.9).
- He chairs the Higher Council of the Judiciary (Conseil supérieur de la Magistrature).

As Commander-in-Chief of the Armed Forces, he chairs the higher national defence councils and committees (>> art.15).