France · Legislation
Legislation and primary sources
Where to find the authoritative text of the law in France, and how to confirm it is still in force.
Sources of law, ranked
- Constitution and bloc de constitutionnalité
- Includes the 1789 Declaration and the Charter for the Environment.
- EU law and treaties
- Rank above ordinary domestic statute.
- Lois
- Statutes voted by Parliament.
- Règlements
- Decrees and orders; the executive holds autonomous regulatory power.
- Codes
- Civil, penal, commercial, labour and around seventy more.
The legislative process
A projet or proposition de loi shuttles between the chambers; the Assembly can be given the last word. Organic laws and constitutional amendments follow stricter routes.
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