Conventional Long Form Name: French Republic
Capital City: Paris Type of Government: Republic Date of Independence: No official date of Independence. 10 August 843 (Western Francia established from the division of the Carolingian Empire); 14 July 1789 (French monarchy overthrown); 22 September 1792 (First French Republic founded); 4 October 1958 (Fifth French Republic established) National Holiday: Fete de la Federation, 14 July (1790); note - although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy Chief of State: President Francois Hollande Head of Government: Prime Minister Jean-Marc Ayrault Executive Branch and Powers: composed of the chief of state, head of government, and cabinet. The cabinet is a Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister. Elections: president elected by popular vote for a five-year term (eligible for a second term). The Prime Minister is appointed by the president. Legislative Branch and Powers: The bicameral Parliament or Parlement consists of the Senate or Senat (348 seats; 328 for metropolitan France and oversea departments, 2 for New Caledonia, 2 for French Polynesia, 1 for Saint-Pierre and Miquelon, 1 for Saint-Barthelemy, 1 for Saint-Martin, 1 for Wallis and Futuna, and 12 for French nationals abroad; members indirectly elected by an electoral college to serve six-year terms; one third elected every three years); and the National Assembly or Assemblee Nationale (577 seats; 555 for metropolitan France, 15 for overseas departments, 7 for overseas dependencies; members elected by popular vote under a single-member majority system to serve five-year terms. Judicial Branch and Powers: Supreme Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation (judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High Council of the Judiciary); Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel (three members appointed by the president, three appointed by the president of the National Assembly, and three appointed by the president of the Senate); Council of State or Conseil d'Etat. Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal French Ambassador to the United State: François Delattre French Embassy in the U.S.: 4101 Reservoir Road, NW Washington DC French Consultates in the U.S.: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco U.S. Ambassador to France: Ambassador Charles H. Rivkin U.S Embassy in France: 2 Avenue Gabriel, 75382 Paris Cedex 08 U.S. Consultates in France: Marseille, Strasbourg France Representative in the U.N.: Gerard Araud Flag Description: three equal vertical bands of blue (hoist side), white, and red; known as the "Le drapeau tricolore" (French Tricolor), the origin of the flag dates to 1790 and the French Revolution when the "ancient French color" of white was combined with the blue and red colors of the Parisian militia; the official flag for all French dependent areas National Symbols: Gallic rooster |
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