A majority for the adoption of laws, a general policy speech followed by a question of no confidence, internal battles for bribery… At the dawn of this new legislature, the National Assembly is becoming more than ever the theater of French political life. For years, it will probably be the nerve center and bring with it a whole series of words that are sometimes unknown to us. To find it, Le Figaro compiles their list and establishes his small dictionary of parliamentary life.
Presidency of the National Assembly
The President of the National Assembly, who has a very important role, is appointed by the vote of parliamentarians. The lucky winner then chairs most of the public meetings for the next five years. By virtue of his title, he also becomes the fourth person in the state to be consulted by the President to dissolve the Assembly or to exercise the special powers of Article 16.
committee
The shadow place where the deputies work, to study, discuss and accept the texts presented in the public session.
There are eight types of committees: Law, Finance, Culture and Education, Economic Affairs, Foreign Affairs, National Defense and Armed Forces, and Sustainable Development and Land Use Planning. Preferably, their chairmanship falls to a presidential majority, except for the finance committee, which should be assigned to the opposition.
Parliamentary group
A structure that allows MPs to come together and benefit from speaking time and the opportunity to gain positions in the constituency. In 2017, a record ten groups were created. They corresponded to traditional political families, such as Les Républicains or the Socialist Party, but also to more heterogeneous chapels. Nomadic deputies have “.unregistered“.
A quest
A position held by three MPs, two from the majority and one from the opposition, quaestors are elected by their peers at the beginning of the legislature and then annually at the beginning of regular sessions. Their missions are to manage the administrative and material aspects of life in the National Assembly. They prepare, implement and control the budget of the Lower House. They also make expenses and manage loans.
The majority
The dominant political force in the National Assembly. To implement their reforms, the newly elected presidents of the republic hope to be able to rely on the absolute majority, which consists of 289 deputies. Below this threshold, it becomes only relative.
Questions to the government
A weekly meeting held on Tuesday afternoons, during which MPs can question ministers, who are required to answer them.
General Policy Statement
An optional but traditional stage in the Fifth Republic, during which the Prime Minister outlined the main orientations of his program. This could be followed by a vote of confidence, which is also optional, and taking over the responsibility of the government. If it fails, the government should resign.
Plea of impeachment
A tool in the hands of the opposition to make the government resign. The impeachment motion must be submitted by one tenth of the deputies, 58, and accepted by their majority.
Parliament session
The time of year during which Parliament meets in plenary session to deliberate. It regular session lasts from the first working day of October to the last working day of June, within 120 sessions per year. a extraordinary session they can also meet at the request of the prime minister or the majority of deputies, with a specific agenda.
Account and account
The texts presented by the government are the project, and the deputies are the proposal.
Parliamentary shuttle
Tracked route for legal texts. They must be voted on equally by both houses to pass. After the first vote in the Assembly, and if the Senate makes changes, the new text is voted on again by the House of Bourbon. And so on.
Joint Equality Commission
An appeal is possible when the two chambers cannot agree on the text. The Joint Joint Committee (CMP), made up of MPs and senators, aims to find a compromise. If it fails, the National Assembly has the last word.
49-3:
Means a text vote for the Prime Minister without debate. Thanks to Article 49-3 of the Constitution, the Prime Minister assumes the responsibility of his government. If within 24 hours the opposition vote is not reversed, then the text is considered adopted. However, the tool is limited to finance bills and one text per parliamentary session.
Voting is blocked
A way to avoid the government’s vote on the law, article-by-article vote and possible rejection, by asking the parliamentarians to decide.”By one vote on all or part of the text in question, keeping only the amendments proposed or adopted by the government;“, it is stated in Article 44-3 of the Constitution.
Source: Le Figaro
I am David Wyatt, a professional writer and journalist for Buna Times. I specialize in the world section of news coverage, where I bring to light stories and issues that affect us globally. As a graduate of Journalism, I have always had the passion to spread knowledge through writing.