The French National Assembly (Assemblée nationale) represents citizens, helps pass legislation and scrutinises the Government’s action.
The French National Assembly has three main responsibilities: passing legislation, scrutinising the Government’s action and evaluating public policies. Together with the Senate, it forms Parliament.
These responsibilities complement one another: setting rules, holding the Government to account and checking the results of public action.
Deputies examine government bills introduced by the Government and private members’ bills introduced by parliamentarians. They debate the text, propose amendments and then vote.
The National Assembly does not act alone: the Senate also examines legislation. The two chambers generally seek to agree on a common text through the legislative shuttle.
Deputies question members of the Government, work in committees, conduct fact-finding missions and may establish committees of inquiry. This scrutiny is intended to obtain explanations and make public action more transparent.
The National Assembly may also call the Government’s political responsibility into question through a motion of no confidence, under the rules laid down by the Constitution.
Evaluation means comparing the objectives announced, the resources committed and the results observed. Deputies may draw on reports, hearings and specialist work.
This responsibility is not limited to checking whether a rule was followed: it also seeks to determine whether a policy produces the expected effects.
The French Parliament has two chambers: the National Assembly and the Senate. Members of the Assembly are deputies; members of the Senate are senators.
The term “Parliament” therefore refers to both chambers together. The term “National Assembly” refers only to the chamber in which deputies sit.
Deputies are elected directly by citizens. Senators are elected indirectly by an electoral college and represent territorial authorities in particular.
Both chambers participate in passing legislation. If disagreement persists on certain texts, the Government may ask the National Assembly to make the final decision. Only the National Assembly can bring down the Government through a motion of no confidence.
A law may establish rules or funding for renovating school buildings. Deputies examine and vote on the text: this is the legislative responsibility.
Later, they may question the Government about how the funding was used and examine whether the work achieved the announced objectives: these are the scrutiny and evaluation responsibilities.
Files in the Bills section show the government and private members’ bills under consideration. The Votes section presents the related recorded public votes when they are available.
The Deputies pages help you find elected representatives and the public activities shown for them in CIVIX. To interpret a vote correctly, always check its subject: an amendment, an article, the whole text or a procedural matter.
No. Texts may originate from the Government or from parliamentarians, and are then examined by the National Assembly and the Senate.
Yes. Questions, hearings and committee work are among the tools used to scrutinise the Government.
Yes, but only if a motion of no confidence meets the tabling requirements and obtains the required majority.