Living in France - The System

• Introduction

EU Factsheets: Housing

• Renting Accommodation

EU Factsheets: Family

• Educational System
• Family Life

EU Factsheets: Moving

• The System
• Registration Procedures
• Moving Goods & Capital
• Moving of Cars
• Finding Accommodation
• Finding a School
• Checklist

EU Factsheets: Lifestyle

• Cultural & Social Life

EU Factsheets: Working

• Working in France
• How to Find a Job
• Job Application
• Job Contracts
• Kinds of Employment
• Working Time
• Vocational Training
• Annual Leave
• End of Employment
• Remuneration
• Self Employment
• Worker Representation
• Work Disputes & Strikes

EU Factsheets: Money

• Taxes & Charges
• Cost of Living
• Pensions

EU Factsheets: Healthcare

• Health Systems
• General Organisation
• Sickness Insurance
• Family & Benefits
• Unemployment Insurance
• Health Card
• E-forms

The Executive is run by the President of the Republic, who is the Head of State, elected by universal suffrage for a term of office which lasts for five years and can be renewed once.

He appoints the Prime Minister and on his recommendation appoints the members of the Government. The latter determines and pursues the country’s policies and reports on it to Parliament.

Legislative Power is exercised by the Parliament which includes:

• The National Assembly which consists of 577 members directly elected by universal suffrage for five years.
• The Senate which is made up of 343 senators elected for 6 years by “electoral college” (members, mayors, town councillors, general councillors and regional councillors).

The Judiciary

The Judiciary is represented by all the courts (judges and magistrates) who settle disputes between individuals or between individuals and the State. It ensures compliance with the laws voted in by Parliament.

The Constitutional Council

The Constitutional Council ensures that the laws are in line with the Constitution.

The Political Parties

The French political world consists of many parties, most of which have representatives in Parliament.

• For more information: Click here

Territorial Organisation of France

France is divided into 26 regions: 22 regions in metropolitan France (the territory on the continent and Corsica) and 4 overseas territories (Guadeloupe, Guyana, Martinique and Réunion).

The Regional Prefect represents the authority of the State. The region is administered by a Regional Council elected by direct universal suffrage.

The regions are subdivided into 100 départements (96 metropolitan departments and 4 overseas territories).
The Departmental Prefect represents the authority of the State. The Department is administered by a General Council, elected by direct universal suffrage.

France also has 6 overseas collectivities: New Caledonia, French Polynesia, Mayotte (which will be a new Department in 2011), Saint-Pierre-et-Miquelon, Saint-Barthélemy, Saint-Martin and Wallis-et-Futuna.

Each department is subdivided into arrondissements, cantons then into communes (town and village), each being administered by a mayor and a municipal council.

The Civil Service at the Service of the Citizen

Before completing any formalities, you have to find the competent civil service department. The French civil service offers a centralised information service. There you will find a description of the administrative procedures as well as where to go to complete them.

N.B.: Some procedures relating to your country of origin can only be carried out at your consulate (passport, birth certificate, voting).

Policing is carried out by the national police in large towns (police station) and by the gendarmerie everywhere else in the territory. If you are a victim of a crime, you can contact them by telephone (on 17 or on 112 from a mobile) or go to make a statement for any judicial procedure or for an insurance file.

• For more information about help for victims: Click here

Text last edited on: 03/2010