A French MP is elected by universal suffrage in any given constituency, defined as a territorial division of 125,000 inhabitants, although he or she represents the nation as a whole and serves the general interest.
A candidate can win in the first round by garnering 50% of votes cast if turnout represents at least 25% of the constituency’s registered voters.
In the case of a second round, anyone winning at least 12.5% of voters may stand; it is therefore possible to see three or four candidates competing. A candidate may withdraw between the first and second rounds, which is usually done to throw votes to another candidate.
If no candidate garners the 12.5% required, the top two candidates compete in a second round.
Terms of office
The 577 deputies at the lower house National Assembly are elected for renewable five-year terms, with no limit on the number of terms they may serve. An MP must be a member of one of the National Assembly’s eight standing committees (Law, Social Affairs, etc.), which draft legislation before it is debated in session.
While many serving French politicians hold two posts at once, certain offices cannot be held concurrently while serving as an MP including mayor, president or vice-president of regional or departmental councils, member of the European Parliament, senator or member of the Constitutional Council (France’s top constitutional court).
Members of Parliament enjoy partial parliamentary immunity: While they cannot be prosecuted for acts related to their mandate they can face criminal proceedings for acts outside the scope of their office.
Making the law
Members of parliament vote on legislation during legislative sessions and can propose amendments that modify the text. They may also table bills.
Once a law has been passed, MPs can refer it to the Constitutional Council to check that it complies with the French Constitution; at least 60 MPs must agree to refer a matter to the court.
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Controlling the government
Legislators can demand answers from the government, either orally or in writing. They also evaluate public policy and publish recommendations. The Finance Committee, in particular, monitors the use of public money.
But the most powerful lever against the government remains a motion of censure, which triggers the resignation of the prime minister and the government the PM named. Such a motion must be signed by at least 1/10th of the National Assembly, that is, 58 MPs.
Working with other institutions
MPs and Senators go back and forth on the text of a bill as it makes its way between the lower house National Assembly and the Senate. But it is the National Assembly that has the last word in the event of disagreement.
The National Assembly and Senators can also sit on the Court of Justice (Cour de Justice de la République), which rules on crimes allegedly committed by members of the government in the exercise of their mandates and can even rule to impeach the president.
