Constitution of India And France

Posted 22 Aug 2024

Updated 29 Aug 2024

3 min read

Why in the News?

French President formally accepted the resignation of Prime Minister and asked him to continue running the caretaker government until the appointment of the next government.

Similarities between the Constitution of India and France

France became a republic from a monarchy following the French Revolution.
- India was inspired by the French revolution. Tipu Sultan, the ruler of Mysore in the late eighteenth century, planted the Tree of Liberty in his capital Seringapatam and called himself ‘Citizen Tipoo’.
Since then, France has had numerous constitutions over the last two centuries, and the current one is the Fifth Republic, adopted in 1958.
- The First Republic came into existence in 1793 following the French Revolution, the Second in 1848, the Third in 1875, and the Fourth in 1946.
Both the countries have a written constitution which is based on the Ideals liberty, equality and fraternity outlined in French Revolution.
Both the countries have popular sovereignty wherein citizens enjoy 'universals adult franchise'.
Both the Countries have a Bicameral Parliament.
- In France, Members of Lower House (National Assembly) are elected by direct universal suffrage for five years whereas Members of Upper House (Senate) are elected through indirect universal suffrage and renewable by half every three years.
Provision of emergency is also enshrined in the Constitution of both the countries.

Contrasting Features of Constitution of India and France

Specification	India	France
Mechanism of expressing Popular Sovereignty	People exercise their sovereignty through their representatives	People exercise their sovereignty through their representatives and by means of referendum.
President is the Head of the State	The President is elected indirectly for a period of five years. There is no limit on the number of terms of the President.	The President is elected for a term of five years by direct universal suffrage. No one may carry out more than two consecutive terms of office
System of Government	Parliamentary: Parliamentary form of government which is federal in structure with certain unitary features.	Semi-Presidential System: system features both a President (elected by universal direct suffrage) and a Prime minister, with the President having substantial powers.
Prime Minister is Head of the Government	The Constitution provides for the Council of Ministers Headed by the Prime Minister to aid and advise the President. Strength, roles and Responsibilities of Council of Ministers is provided in the Constitution.	The President appoints the Prime Minister and the members of the government (on the recommendation of the Prime Minister). The purview, competences, responsibilities and tasks of each minister are not fixed. They are freely determined by the Prime Minister and the President.
Justice system	Integrated judicial system, meaning that the decisions made by higher courts are binding on the lower courts. Also, the appellate system exists in India.	Judicial authorities are divided into distinct entities between the legal jurisdictions responsible for settling disputes between individuals, and the administrative jurisdictions for disputes between citizens and the public authorities.
Involvement of Civil Society	No provision	Constitution provides for Economic, Social and Environmental Council (CESE), a consultative assembly, whose primary purpose is to get civil society involved in the government’s economic, social and environmental policies.