French Congress
From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia
The French Congress (French: Congrès du Parlement français) is the name given to the body created when both houses of the present-day French Parliament – the French National Assembly and the French Senate – reunite at the Château of Versailles to vote on revisions to the French constitution.
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[edit] Composition and organization
The Congress is composed of senators and deputies (representatives) reunited in the meeting hall (salle des séances) of the southern wing of the Château of Versailles. Its office and its president are those of the French National Assembly.
[edit] Constitutional revision
According to Article 89 of the constitution of the French Fifth Republic, revisions to the constitution may be instigated by either deputies or senators (this is called "proposition de révision"), or by the French president through proposals submitted by the French Prime Minister (this is called "projet de révision").
The normal procedure of constitutional revision is through national referendum. However, in the case of "projet de révision", the French President may turn to a more flexible and less demanding procedure: the vote of Congress. Reunited at Versailles, the members of parliament can approve constitutional revisions with a three-fifths majority vote, after which the head of state enacts the changes within fifteen days.
[edit] Stamp collecting
The reuniting of the French Congress is the occasion for the creation of a temporary post office and a special cancellation mark. Mail sent from this office is highly sought after by stamp collectors who often ask their senator of deputies to send them mail from the Congress.
[edit] References
- This article is based on the article Congrès du Parlement français from the French Wikipedia, retrieved on October 20, 2006.
[edit] External link
- "Constitutional Revision" on the French National Assembly website (in French)
