The French government is divided into various levels, ministries and sections, below you will find a list of the most important ones.
A simplified hierarchy of the governing power in France is as follows:
- The President of France
- The Senat with a body of Senators who are elected by the mayors
- The Parliament, elected by enrolled electors of French nationality
- Regional council
- County council
- Town council
Please note that as the French government is decentralizing its power, many town concils are grouping together to form what is called Communauté de Communes
.
Elections of the various governing bodies
The President of
France is voted into power after an election which is based on two voting polls. The first poll allows the first two candiates with the most votes to go to the second poll. The second poll will be won by the canidate with the most votes.
Votes must be French citizens and already enrolled on the electoral list.
To become a candiate you must be an eligable French citizen and obtain at least 100 signatures from different mayors.
The Senat (house of Senators) have the role of validating law proposed by the parliament. The members of the Senat are elected by the mayors.
Government ministries
The French governement is divided into various ministries, these can be created, changed or removed by the President.
Conseil
Economique et Social: Economic and social council
Le Conseil
d'Etat : The State Council
Ministère de
la Culture et de la Communication : Ministry of culture and communication
Ministère
de la Défense : Ministry of Defence
Ministère
de la Fonction Publique, de la Réforme de l'Etat et de la Décentralisation :
Ministry of Civil service, state reform and decentralisation
Ministère
de la Jeunesse et des Sports : Ministry of youth and sport
Ministère
de la Justice : Ministry of justice
Ministère
de l'Agriculture et de la Pêche : Ministry of agriculture and fishing
Ministère
de l'Aménagement du Territoire et de l'Environnement : Ministry of territorial management and the environment
Ministère
de l'Economie, des Finances et de l'Industrie : Ministry of economy, finances and industry
Ministère
de l'Education, de la Recherche et de la Technologie : Ministry of education, research and technology
Ministère
de l'Emploi et de la Solidarité : Ministry of employment and solidarity
Ministère
de l'équipement des Transports et du Logement : Ministry of equipment of transport and lodgement
Ministère
de l'Intérieur : Ministry of the interior
Ministère
des Affaires Etrangées : Ministry of foreign affairs
Secrétariat
d'Etat à l'Outre-Mer : Overseas secretary
French Embassies
Ambassade de France : French Embassy in the USA
Ambassade de France en Irlande : Eire
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and Ambassade de France
