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France is a republican, democratic, secular state whose motto is "Liberté, Egalité, Fraternité". The constitution of the 4th October 1958 of the 5th Republic governs the running of the institutions. Thus, the constitutional body - "Le conseil Constitutionnel" stands as guarantor for the constitution. The President of the Republic, the Head of the State and the army, who is elected for 5 years by direct universal suffrage, selects the Prime Minister and through him the members of government. The French president presides over the Council of ministers and promulgates laws. He can also dissolve the National Assembly and in a serious crisis can use special powers.
 The Prime Minister
He directs the government and ensures law enforcement. Under his direction, the government determines and leads the politics of the Nation, remaining at all times accountable to Parliament.
Parliament
 The Parliament is made up of 2 assemblies: Le Sénat (House of Lords) and l'Assemblée Nationale (House of commons). The 2 assemblies in addition to their role of controlling the government, also propose and vote in laws. For this reason and in the case of a disagreement, the National Assembly rules definitively.
Belonging to the European Union, France acknowledges the role of European Institutions ( European Commission, European Parliament and European Council) and includes European decisions into its way of working.
The President of the Republic
Jacques Chirac, creator of the RPR party (right wing) was re-elected to the presidency of the Republic on the 5th May 2002 and named as Prime Minister Jean - Pierre Raffarin, from the UMP ( Union for the Presidential majority, centre right party created 2 days after the first round of the presidential elections of 2002). The results of the last general and presidential elections brought to an end France's 5-year period of "Co-habitation" (where the elected head of state and an opposition parliamentary majority coexist).
Jean-Pierre Raffarin's priorities are to focus on decentralisation, to reinforce regional power, and to defend free enterprise.
Currently, the UMP partys` MPs make up the majority of Parliament with 356 seats, which has lead to a rupture after years of coexistence of a President and Prime Minister of opposing parties. The next general and Presidential elections will take place in 2007.
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