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How a law is passed (2/2)
This sheet explains how a law is passed. When one chamber approves a bill, the bill goes to the other chamber.
Key points of the sheet
- If both assemblies approve the same text without changes, the law is finally adopted. If the second chamber adds amendments, the text goes back to the first assembly: this is the parliamentary shuttle (navette parlementaire).
- If they disagree, a committee of 7 members of the National Assembly (députés) and 7 senators looks for an agreement. Without agreement, the National Assembly decides.
- The President of the Republic approves and signs the law within 15 days. During this time, he can ask for a new examination, and the Constitutional Council can be asked to check the law.
- Once promulgated, the law is published in the Journal officiel. It then comes into force.
- A government bill (projet de loi) is prepared by a ministry, under the control of the Prime Minister. It is examined by the Council of State, adopted in the Council of Ministers, then submitted by the government.
- One or more members of the National Assembly or senators can also submit a private member's bill (proposition de loi).
- The text is examined in committee. Then it is discussed, amended and voted on in a public session, in both chambers.
- The Constitutional Council can be asked to act by 60 members of the National Assembly or 60 senators. It checks if the law respects the Constitution.
Words to know
- parliamentary shuttle (navette parlementaire)
- It is when the text changed by one chamber goes back to the other chamber.
- amendments (amendements)
- They are changes added to the bill.
- joint committee (commission mixte paritaire)
- It has 7 members of the National Assembly and 7 senators and looks for a compromise text when they disagree.
- government bill (projet de loi)
- It is a text prepared by a ministry and submitted by the government.
- private member's bill (proposition de loi)
- It is a text submitted by one or more members of the National Assembly or senators.
- Constitutional Council (Conseil constitutionnel)
- It checks if the law respects the Constitution, when it is asked to.
- Journal officiel (government gazette)
- The promulgated law is published there, then it comes into force.
Test yourself: 3 questions
Who submits a private member's bill (proposition de loi)?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui dépose une proposition de loi ?
One or more members of the National Assembly or senators submit a private member's bill.
If the joint committee finds no agreement, who has the last word?
In French, the language of the exam: Sans accord de la commission mixte paritaire, qui a le dernier mot ?
If the committee finds no agreement, the National Assembly has the last word.
Who can ask the Constitutional Council to check a law?
In French, the language of the exam: Qui peut saisir le Conseil constitutionnel sur une loi ?
The Constitutional Council can be asked to act by 60 members of the National Assembly or 60 senators.
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Questions on the ministry's list that rest on this sheet
More in this topic (Democracy and the right to vote)
- Democracy and the Republic (1/2)
- Democracy and the Republic (2/2)
- The principle of multiple political parties
Source
Sheet “Comment voter une loi (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.