and Miquelon)

Dependent areas: Bassas da India, Clipperton Island, Europa
Island, French Polynesia, French Southern and Antarctic Lands,
Glorioso Islands, Juan de Nova Island, New Caledonia, Tromelin
Island, Wallis and Futuna
note: the US does not recognize claims to Antarctica

Independence: 486 (unified by Clovis)

National holiday: National Day, Taking of the Bastille, 14 July
(1789)

Constitution: 28 September 1958, amended concerning election of
president in 1962, amended to comply with provisions of EC
Maastricht Treaty in 1992; amended to tighten immigration laws 1993

Legal system: civil law system with indigenous concepts; review of
administrative but not legislative acts

Suffrage: 18 years of age; universal

Executive branch:
chief of state: President Jacques CHIRAC (since 17 May 1995) was
elected for a seven-year term by direct universal suffrage; election
last held 17 May 1995 (next to be held by May 2002); results -
Second Ballot Jacques CHIRAC 52.64%, Lionel JOSPIN 47.36%
head of government: Prime Minister Alain JUPPE (since 18 May 1995)
was appointed by the president
cabinet: the Council of Ministers was appointed by the president on
the suggestion of the prime minister

Legislative branch: bicameral Parliament (Parlement)
Senate (Senat): elections last held 24 September 1995 (next to be
held September 1998; nine-year term, elected by thirds every three
years); results - percent of vote by party NA; seats - (321 total;
296 metropolitan France, 13 for overseas departments and
territories, and 12 for French nationals abroad) RPR 91, UDF 132, PS
75, PCF 16, other 7
National Assembly (Assemblee Nationale): elections last held 21 and
28 March 1993 (next to be held NA 1998); results - percent of vote
by party NA; seats - (577 total) RPR 247, UDF 213, PS 67, PCF 24,
independents 26; note - seating as of 24 September 1995: RPR 247,
UDF 208, PS 71, PCF 24, independents 27

Judicial branch: Supreme Court of Appeals (Cour de Cassation),
judges are appointed by the president from nominations of the High
Council of the Judiciary

Political parties and leaders: Rally for the Republic (RPR), Alain
JUPPE, president; Union for French Democracy (UDF - coalition of PR,
FD, RAD, PSD), Francois LEOTARD; Republican Party (PR), Francois
LEOTARD; Democratic Force (FD), Francois BAYROU; Radical (RAD),
Andre ROSSINOT; Socialist Party (PS), Lionel