Democratic Governance, Constitutional Foundations, and European Citizenship

Practice flashcards reviewing the French Constitution, the separation of powers, and European Union institutions and citizenship for 3ème EMC.

How is the Constitution defined in the context of the French Republic?

It is the supreme law of the Republic that defines the organization and separation of powers (executive, legislative, judicial) and guarantees the fundamental rights and freedoms of all citizens.

What are the four foundational principles of the French Republic?

Laïcité, démocratie, indivisibilité, and solidarité sociale.

What values are central to the Republic, and which symbols represent them?

The values of liberté, égalité, and fraternité, represented by the drapeau tricolore, La Marseillaise, Marianne, and the devise.

What constitutional change took place in 1962 regarding the Président de la République?

The Président de la République became elected by direct universal suffrage (suffrage universel direct).

What principle was introduced into the French Constitution in 1999?

The principle of parity between women and men (principe de parité entre les femmes et les hommes).

How was the presidential term modified by the constitutional revision in 2000?

The term transitioned from a seven-year term (septennat) to a five-year term (quinquennat).

What text was added to the Constitution of the Ve République in 2004?

The Charte de l'environnement.

What was the purpose of the 2008 constitutional revision?

It granted more powers to the Parlement and to constitutional justice.

Which institutions exercise the executive power (pouvoir exécutif), and what is their role?

The Président de la République and the Gouvernement (ministres), who lead the country, hold an international representational role, and enforce laws.

Which institutions compose the legislative power (pouvoir législatif), and what are their duties?

The Parlement, consisting of the Assemblée nationale (députés) and the Sénat (sénateurs), which debates and votes on laws and monitors the Gouvernement.

What entities form the judicial power (pouvoir judiciaire), and what is their role?

The Tribunaux and the Conseil constitutionnel, which judge cases and guarantee compliance with laws and constitutional liberties.

What is the procedure for adopting a law in the French Republic?

The Gouvernement or a parliamentarian proposes a bill (projet or proposition de loi); the Parlement debates, amends, and votes on it; and the Président promulgates the law following validation by the Conseil constitutionnel.

How does the Parlement exercise oversight and control over the Gouvernement?

Through investigative commissions (commissions d'enquête), public hearings (auditions publiques), parliamentary questions (questions au gouvernement), and voting on the budget.

What legal procedure was established in 2010 allowing citizens to contest a law during a trial?

The Question Prioritaire de Constitutionnalité (QPC), which allows citizens to verify that a law does not violate fundamental rights and freedoms.

What common values unite the 27 member democracies of the Union européenne?

Respect for human rights, liberty, equality between citizens, and solidarity between peoples.

What is the role and composition of the Commission européenne?

It proposes laws and ensures their application across member states; it is composed of 27 commissioners appointed by the member state governments.

What are the responsibilities and membership structure of the Parlement européen?

It represents European citizens, debates and votes on legislation, and controls the Commission; it consists of 720 deputies elected by direct universal suffrage every 5 years.

What is the role and membership of the Conseil de l'Union européenne?

It brings together ministers designated by each member state government to adopt laws and the budget.

Which treaty created European Union citizenship in 1992?

The Traité de Maastricht.

What specific rights are granted to citizens of the European Union under EU citizenship?

The right to vote and run in European and municipal elections in any EU country of residence; freedom to circulate, work, and reside across the EU; and the right to appeal to the Cour de justice de l'Union européenne (CJUE) if those rights are violated.