Do all laws follow exactly the same path?
No. Special or accelerated procedures may alter certain stages, but the general outline remains a useful guide.
How a law is passed in France
A vote in the National Assembly is only one stage in the life of a law. This page clearly explains the path of a text from its introduction to its official publication.
In brief
A law generally goes through introduction, committee examination, debates and votes in both chambers. After final passage, it may be reviewed before being promulgated and published.
Key concepts
- A government bill originates from the Government; a private member’s bill originates from a parliamentarian.
- The committee prepares the text before it is examined in a public sitting.
- Amendments may change the text at several stages.
- The National Assembly and the Senate examine the text through the legislative shuttle.
The 12 main stages
1. Introduction of the text
The text formally enters the parliamentary procedure.
A law may be initiated by the Government or by a parliamentarian. A text from the Government is a government bill, known in French as a projet de loi. A text from a deputy or senator is a private member’s bill, known as a proposition de loi. The text then receives a number and becomes part of a legislative file.
Purpose: To bring the text formally into the legislative procedure.
Actors: Government, Deputy, Senator
2. Committee examination
A specialist parliamentary committee examines the text.
Before the public sitting, a parliamentary committee studies the text. It may hold hearings, prepare the debate, propose changes and examine amendments.
Purpose: To prepare the text before it is examined in a public sitting.
Actors: Parliamentary committee, Rapporteur, Deputies, Senators
3. Debate in public sitting
Parliamentarians debate the text in public.
In the chamber, parliamentarians debate the text, defend their positions and discuss the proposed changes.
Purpose: To enable a public discussion of the text and its content.
Actors: Deputies, Senators, Government
4. Amendments
The text may be changed before it is passed.
An amendment is used to add, delete or alter part of the text. Not every vote therefore concerns the whole law: some votes concern only an amendment or an article.
Purpose: To allow the text to be changed while it is under examination.
Actors: Deputies, Senators, Government
5. Vote in the National Assembly
Deputies vote on an amendment, an article or the text.
Deputies may vote for, against or abstain. The vote may concern an amendment, an article or the whole text. Some votes are recorded public votes, meaning that each deputy’s position is officially registered by name.
Purpose: To decide publicly whether part of the text, or the whole text, is adopted.
Actors: Deputies
6. Examination by the Senate
The Senate then examines the text.
After examination by the National Assembly, the text may be sent to the Senate. Senators examine it in turn and may amend and vote on it.
Purpose: To ensure that the text is examined by Parliament’s other chamber.
Actors: Senators
7. Legislative shuttle
The text moves between the National Assembly and the Senate until agreement is reached.
If the two chambers do not adopt the same version, the text moves back and forth between them. This process is called the legislative shuttle, or navette parlementaire in French.
Purpose: To allow the two chambers to work progressively towards agreement on a common version of the text.
Actors: National Assembly, Senate
8. Joint committee
Deputies and senators seek a compromise.
A joint committee, known in French as a commission mixte paritaire, may be convened to seek common wording when the two chambers disagree. It is composed of 7 deputies and 7 senators.
Purpose: To find a compromise version between the National Assembly and the Senate.
Actors: 7 deputies, 7 senators
9. Final passage
The text is finally passed.
Once the chambers have agreed, or after the National Assembly has been given the final say in certain cases, the text may be regarded as finally passed.
Purpose: To conclude the parliamentary stage of passing the text.
Actors: National Assembly, Senate
10. Constitutional Council
The law may be reviewed before it enters into force.
The Constitutional Council may be asked to verify whether the law complies with the Constitution. It may uphold the whole text, strike down certain provisions or, more rarely, strike down the text as a whole.
Purpose: To verify that the law complies with the Constitution.
Actors: Constitutional Council
11. Promulgation
The President of the Republic signs the law.
Once the text has been passed and, where applicable, reviewed, the President of the Republic promulgates the law.
Purpose: To make the law enforceable after it has been passed.
Actors: President of the Republic
12. Publication in the Official Journal
The law is officially published.
The law is published in the Official Journal. Publication allows it to enter into force under the arrangements provided for in the text.
Purpose: To make the law officially accessible and applicable.
Actors: Official Journal
A simple example
A text on access to a public service
After being introduced, the text is studied by a committee. Amendments propose changes to its arrangements, after which deputies debate and vote.
The Senate then examines the text. If the two chambers adopt different versions, the legislative shuttle continues in order to seek agreement before final passage.
How can I see this in CIVIX?
Open a legislative file to follow its public stages, then view the related votes. Always check whether a vote concerns an amendment, an article or the whole text.
Frequently asked questions
Why does a text return to the two chambers several times?
Because the National Assembly and the Senate must examine the versions adopted by the other chamber and seek agreement.
Does a law apply as soon as the final vote is held?
No. In particular, it must be promulgated and published, and then enters into force under the applicable rules.