Why in the News?
French President formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister and asked him to continue running the caretaker government until the appointment of the next government.
Similarities between the Constitution of India and France
- France became a republic from a monarchy following the French Revolution.
- India was inspired by the French revolution. Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore in the late eighteenth century, planted the Tree of Liberty in his capital Seringapatam and called himself ‘Citizen Tipoo’.
- Since then, France has had numerous constitutions over the last two centuries, and the current one is the Fifth Republic, adopted in 1958.
- The First Republic came into existence in 1793 following the French Revolution, the Second in 1848, the Third in 1875, and the Fourth in 1946.
- Both the countries have a written constitution which is based on the Ideals liberty, equality and fraternity outlined in French Revolution.
- Both the countries have popular sovereignty wherein citizens enjoy 'universals adult franchise'.
- Both the Countries have a Bicameral Parliament.
- In France, Members of Lower House (National Assembly) are elected by direct universal suffrage for five years whereas Members of Upper House (Senate) are elected through indirect universal suffrage and renewable by half every three years.
- Provision of emergency is also enshrined in the Constitution of both the countries.
Contrasting Features of Constitution of India and France
Specification | India | France |
Mechanism of expressing Popular Sovereignty | People exercise their sovereignty through their representatives | People exercise their sovereignty through their representatives and by means of referendum. |
President is the Head of the State | The President is elected indirectly for a period of five years. There is no limit on the number of terms of the President. | The President is elected for a term of five years by direct universal suffrage. No one may carry out more than two consecutive terms of office |
System of Government | Parliamentary: Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features. | Semi-Presidential System: system features both a President (elected by universal direct suffrage) and a Prime minister, with the President having substantial powers. |
Prime Minister is Head of the Government |
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Justice system
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| Judicial authorities are divided into distinct entities between the legal jurisdictions responsible for settling disputes between individuals, and the administrative jurisdictions for disputes between citizens and the public authorities. |
Involvement of Civil Society | No provision | Constitution provides for Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), a consultative assembly, whose primary purpose is to get civil society involved in the government’s economic, social and environmental policies. |