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Democracy and the Republic (2/2)
This sheet presents the model of the Republic. It explains simply how democracy works.
Key points of the sheet
- The President of the Republic is elected for 5 years by direct universal suffrage. He appoints the Prime Minister according to the majority.
- The Prime Minister proposes the ministers of the Government to the President of the Republic.
- Parliament is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate. The 577 members of the National Assembly (députés) are elected by direct suffrage every 5 years.
- The 348 senators are elected by indirect suffrage every 6 years. They are elected by the electors (grands électeurs).
- At local level, the mayor and the municipal councillors are elected for 6 years. They represent the citizens in the municipality (commune).
- Departmental and regional councillors are elected for 6 years by direct suffrage. They form the departmental or regional assembly, which takes decisions for the département or the region.
Words to know
- universal suffrage (suffrage universel)
- The President of the Republic is elected by universal suffrage, directly by French citizens.
- indirect suffrage (suffrage indirect)
- Senators are elected by indirect suffrage, by electors chosen by the French.
- electors (grands électeurs)
- They are chosen by the French and they elect the senators.
- Parliament (Parlement)
- It is made up of the National Assembly and the Senate.
- municipal elected officials (élus municipaux)
- They are the mayor and the municipal councillors, elected for 6 years. They represent the citizens in the municipality.
- departmental assembly (assemblée départementale)
- It is made up of the departmental councillors and takes decisions about the département.
- regional assembly (assemblée régionale)
- It is made up of the regional councillors and takes decisions about the region.
Test yourself: 3 questions
How many senators does the Senate have?
In French, the language of the exam: Combien de sénateurs compte le Sénat ?
The Senate has 348 senators.
Who proposes the ministers to the President of the Republic?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui propose les ministres au président de la République ?
The ministers are proposed by the Prime Minister to the President of the Republic.
What do the departmental councillors form?
In French, the language of the exam: Que forment les conseillers départementaux ?
The departmental councillors form the departmental assembly. It takes decisions about the département.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
- For how long are deputies elected?
- For how long are senators elected?
- How long is the term of the municipal council and the mayor?
- Who appoints the Prime Minister?
- Who elects the deputies?
- At the end of his or her term, can the President decide to stay in power?
More in this topic (Democracy and the right to vote)
- The principle of multiple political parties
- The conditions for voting in France (1/2)
- The conditions for voting in France (2/2)
Source
Sheet “La démocratie et la République (2/2)” of the French Ministry of the Interior: formation-civique.interieur.gouv.fr. Content published under the Etalab Open Licence 2.0. This page is a plain-language adaptation made by Hexaciv, which is not an official site: if in doubt, the ministry's text is the one that counts.
Ministry sheet read on 23 October 2026, still identical on 25 October 2026.