Abstract
The constitution of the Fifth Republic is of fundamental importance in shaping present-day political life and governmental activity in France. Written constitutions, within any particular political society, at least when they are the product of a genuinely indigenous movement rather than being imposed from without, perform a range of functions. They are likely to embody a critique of the situation that existed previously; they are a distillation of the broad political values of the ruling groups within society, and also, within democratic regimes, of as wide a spectrum of political opinion as possible; they incorporate aspirations about the way in which the future political life of the society should develop and progress; they contain specific rules which determine the balance of political power within society and legitimize political activity; and if they survive for a certain length of time they may become points of reference which shape and determine social and political values and policy-making as well as reflecting them.
Preview
Unable to display preview. Download preview PDF.
Copyright information
© 2003 Anne Stevens
About this chapter
Cite this chapter
Stevens, A. (2003). The Constitutional Framework. In: Government and Politics of France. Comparative Government and Politics. Palgrave, London. https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4039-3996-8_2
Download citation
DOI: https://doi.org/10.1007/978-1-4039-3996-8_2
Publisher Name: Palgrave, London
Print ISBN: 978-0-333-99441-2
Online ISBN: 978-1-4039-3996-8
eBook Packages: Palgrave Political & Intern. Studies CollectionPolitical Science and International Studies (R0)