Fr 139 Government and Politics
Reading Questions
Nadeau & Barlow, Ch. 9 & 10 (p. 115-142)

Ch. 9

1.  Who was Charles de Gaulle?  Why is he such a huge figure to the French?

2.  What are the president's powers under the Fifth Republic?

3.  What are the roles of the other branches of government:  the Parliament and the Executive?

4.  What checks and balances keep the president from being a dictator?

5.  What do Nadeau & Barlow mean when they write that France's electoral system is "légitimiste"?

6.  What happened in the first round of presidential elections in 2002 that shocked France and the world?

Ch. 10

7.  What is the French State, or "Etat,"  according to the authors?

8.  What meaning does the word "République" hold in France?

9.  In what time period did the borders of France stabilize?

10.  How many civil servants does France employ today?

11.  What does it take to become a civil servant?  What are the benefits of such a position?

12.  How much do the French pay in taxes?

13.  Why do the French typically give little money to charity?

14.  What three principles are essential to the success of centralized government in France?  How is this very different from the U.S.?