Senate (France)
The Senate is the upper house of the French Parliament, with the lower house being the National Assembly, the two houses constituting the legislature of France. The French Senate is made up of 348 senators elected by part of the country's local councillors, as well as by representatives of French citizens living abroad. Senators have six-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every three years.
Some of the key events about Senate (France)
- 1875Established as the upper house of the French Parliament, providing a check on the power of the lower house
- 1875Rejected a constitutional amendment to establish a parliamentary system, maintaining a stronger presidential model
- 1884Gained the right to elect its own president, increasing its autonomy
- 1940Voted to grant full powers to Marshal Pétain, effectively ending the Third Republic
- 1946Reconstituted after World War II as part of the Fourth Republic, maintaining its role in the legislative process
- 1946Opposed the new constitution of the Fourth Republic, leading to its temporary abolition
- 1958Retained its position as the upper house in the Fifth Republic's constitution, ensuring continuity in governance
- 1962Successfully challenged a constitutional referendum, demonstrating its role in upholding constitutional principles
- 1962Opposed President de Gaulle's constitutional reform for direct election of the president
- 1969Played a crucial role in defeating a referendum that would have reduced its powers, preserving its influence
- 1969Rejected de Gaulle's referendum on Senate reform, contributing to his resignation
- 1971Gained the right to refer laws to the Constitutional Council for review, enhancing its role in constitutional oversight
- 1984Blocked socialist government's attempt to limit private school funding
- 1998Delayed passage of legislation reducing the workweek to 35 hours
- 2003Approved constitutional reforms granting greater autonomy to local governments, supporting decentralization
- 2008Supported constitutional amendments limiting the presidential term to two consecutive terms, promoting democratic turnover
- 2008Opposed a constitutional amendment to allow the president to address parliament directly
- 2011Passed legislation allowing French citizens living abroad to elect their own senators, expanding representation
- 2011Rejected a bill to criminalize denial of the Armenian Genocide
- 2013Delayed the passage of same-sex marriage legislation
Disclaimer: This material is written based on information taken from open sources, including Wikipedia, news media, podcasts, and other public sources.
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