Law of France: Difference between revisions

{{Short description|Overview of the law of Francenone}}

{{Redirect|French law|the dialect of French used in English courts|Law French|the law requiring the use of French in Quebec|BillCharter 101of the French Language}}

'''French law''' canhas bea divided[[Jurisdictional intodualism twoin mainFrance|dual categories:jurisdictional system]] comprising [[private law]] ({{lang|fr|droit privé}}), also known as judicial law), and [[public law]] ({{lang|fr|droit public}}).{{sfn|Bermann|Picard|2008|p=58}}{{sfn|MDLJ-OrgJustice|2021}}

[[File:OrganisationJudiciary juridictionnelleof nationale frFrance.svg|thumb|upright=2.2|Schema of [[Jurisdictional dualism in France|jurisdictional dualism]] in the French legal system]]

* [[Criminal law in France|Criminal law]] ({{lang|fr|droit pénalepénal}})

The announcement in November 2005 by the [[European Commission]] that, on the basis of powers recognised in a recent{{when|date=October 2024}} [[European Court of Justice]] ("ECJ") ruling,{{what|date=October 2024}} it intends to create a dozen or so European Union ("EU") criminal offences{{what|date=October 2024}} suggests that one should{{weasel inline|date=October 2024}} also now consider [[EU law]] ("[[:fr:droit communautaire|droit communautaire]]", sometimes referred to, less accurately, as "[[:fr:droit europeén|droit européen]]") as a new and distinct area of law in France (akin to the "federal laws" that apply across States of the US, on top of their own State law), and not simply a group of rules which influence the content of France's civil, criminal, administrative and constitutional law.{{cn|date=October 2024}}

[[Treaties of the European Union|European Union treaties]] and [[European Union law|EU law]] enacted under the authority of EU treaties are superior to domestic law.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /><ref name="Art. 88-1">See Art. 88-1 of the Constitution, laying down the EU institutional and legal framework</ref> French courts consider the French Constitution to be superior to international treaties, including EU treaties and EU law.<ref name="Levacher-1998">See ''Conseil d’Étatd'État'', ruling in ''Sarran, Levacher et autres'' (1998), AJDA, 1039. See also the Court of Cassation decision in ''Pauline Fraisse'' (2000), Bull. ass. plen., no 4.</ref> This is in contrast to EU institutions, which sees EU law as superior to the laws of [[Member state of the European Union|member states]].<ref name="Costa v ENEL">''Costa v ENEL'' [1964] ECR 585</ref>

*'''Ordinary statutes''' (''Lois ordinaires'') enacted by the [[French Parliament]], concerning only matters listed in Art. 34 of the Constitution.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> These matters include civil liberties, nationality, civil status, taxes, criminal law, and criminal procedure.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> However, contrary to the expectations of the 1958 Constitution, Parliament has often had a majority supporting the government.<ref name="Colloque Aix">Colloque Aix-en-Provence, ''Vingt ans d’applicationd'application de la Constitution de 1958: le domaine de la loi et du règlement'' (Marseille, 1988)</ref> This political reality meant that Parliament's legislative domain has been, in practice, expanded to include any important topic.<ref name="Colloque Aix" /> Subjects included in Art. 34 cannot be delegated to the government, other than by orders.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" />

**''Règlements d’applicationd'application'' are rules arising from parliamentary delegation, analogous to [[delegated legislation in the United Kingdom]].<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> They can be challenged in administrative courts as contrary to the delegating statute.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" />

By contrast, administrative ''circulaires'' are not law, merely instructions by government ministries.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> [[Circulaire]]s are nonetheless important in guiding public officials and judges.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> For example, the Circulaire of 14 May 1993 contains detailed instructions for prosecutors and judges on how to apply new rules in the 1992 revised criminal code.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> Circularies are not considered sources of law in private courts, but are sometimes considered binding in administrative courts.<ref>''Conseil d’Étatd'État'' in ''Institution Notre Dame du Kreisker'' (1954), RPDA, 50</ref><ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> As such, the binding ''circulaires règlementaires'' are reviewed like other administrative acts, and can be found illegal if they contravene a parliamentary statute.<ref>See, e.g. ''Syndicat des producteurs indépendants'' (1997), D. 1997, 467</ref><ref name="Steiner-2018a" />

[[Case law]] (''la jurisprudence'') is not binding and is not an official source of law, although it has been ''de facto'' highly influential.<ref name="Lawson-1953">F.H. Lawson, ''A Common Lawyer looks at the Civil Law'' (Ann Arbor, 1953)</ref>⁵⁶<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008a" /> French courts have recognized their role in gradually shaping the law through judicial decisions,<ref>See, e.g. Cour de cassation, ''Rapport annuel 1975'' (Paris, 1976), 101</ref> and the fact that they develop judicial doctrine, especially through ''[[jurisprudence constante]]'' (a consistent set of case law).<ref>''L’imageL'image doctrinale de la Cour de cassation'' (Paris, 1994)</ref> There is no law prohibiting the citation of precedents and lower courts often do.<ref>R. David, ''French Law'' (Baton Rouge, 1972) 182-183</ref> Although the highest courts, the [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]] and the [[Conseil d'État (France)|Council of State]] do not cite precedents in their decisions, previous cases are prominent in arguments of the ''[[Ministère public (France)|ministère public]]'' and the ''commissaire du gouvernement,'' in draft opinions, and in internal files.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008a" /><ref name="Bell-1991">J. Bell, ‘Reflections'Reflections on the procedure of the Conseil d’Etat’d'Etat' in G. Hand and J. McBride, ''Droit sans frontières'' (Birmingham, 1991)</ref><ref name="Lasser-1995">M Lasser, ‘Judicial'Judicial (Self-)Portraits: Judicial Discourse in the French Legal System’System' (1995) 104 Yale LJ 1325</ref><ref name="Bell-2001">J. Bell, ''French Legal Cultures'' (Cambridge, 2001) 175–185.</ref>

Some areas of French law even primarily consist of case law. For example, tort liability in private law areis primarily elaborated by judges, from only five articles (articles 1382–1386) in the [[Napoleonic Code|Civil Code]].<ref>''Les conditions de la responsabilité'' 3rd edn. (Paris, 2006)</ref><ref>''Les effets de la responsabilité'' 2nd edn. (Paris, 2001)</ref> Scholars have suggested that, in these fields of law, French judges are creating law much like common law judges.<ref name="Lawson-1953" />⁸²<ref>G. Ripert, ''Le régime démocratique et le droit civil moderne'', vol. 2 (Paris, 1948), 15</ref> Case law is also the primary sourcessource for principles in French [[administrative law]].<ref name="Bell-2001" /> Many of the [[Constitutional Council (France)|Constitutional Council]]’s's decisions are critical for understanding French [[constitutional law]].<ref>See G. Vedel, ‘Le'Le précédent judiciaire en droit public’public', in ''Die Bedeutung von Präjudizien in deutschen und französischen Recht (Arbeiten zur Rechtsvergleichung no. 123'' (Frankfurt/Main, 1985).</ref>

The differences between French case law and case law in common law systems appear to be: (1) theyit areis not cited in the highest courts;<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008a" /><ref name="Bell-1991" /><ref name="Lasser-1995" /><ref name="Bell-2001" /> (2) lower courts are theoretically free to depart from higher courts, although they risk their decisions being overturned;<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008a" /> and (3) courts must not solely cite case law as a basis of decision in the absence of a recognized source of law.<ref>E.g. Crim. 3 Nov. 1955, D 1956.557 note Savatier, where a Cour d’appel’sd'appel's decision was quashed because it had refused to exceed its normal maximum level of damages.</ref><ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008a" />

French judicial decisions, especially in its highest courts, are written in a highly laconic and formalist style, being incomprehensible to non-lawyers.<ref>A. Perdriau, ''La pratique des arrêts civils de la Cour de cassation: principes et méthodes de rédaction'' (Paris, 1993)</ref><ref>B. Ducamin, ‘Le'Le style des décisions du Conseil d’Etat’d'Etat' EDCE 1984–1985.129</ref> While judges do consider practical implications and policy debates, they are not at all reflected in the written decision.<ref>M. Lasser, ''Judicial Deliberations. A Comparative Analysis of Judicial Transparency and Legitimacy'' (Oxford, 2004), 16, 44–61</ref> This has led scholars to criticize the courts for being overly formalistic and even disingenuous, for maintaining the facade of judges only interpreting legal rules and arriving at deductive results.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008a" />

There are about 78 legal codes in France currently in force, which deal with both the French public and private law categorically. These codes are published for free by the French government on a website called ''Legifrance[[Légifrance]]''.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/ |title = Légifrance}}</ref>

The {{ILL|Ordinance of Montils-les-Tours (1454)|fr|Ordonnance de Montils-lès-Tours}} was an important juncture in this period, as it ordered the official recording and homologation of customary law.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> Customs would be compiled by local practitioners and approved by local assemblies of the [[Estates of the realm|three estates]], with disagreements resolved by the central court.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> At the time, the wholesale adoption of [[Roman law]] and the ''[[Jus commune|ius commune]]'' would be unrealistic, as the king’s authority was insufficient to impose a unified legal system in all French provinces.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> In the process of recording, local customs were sometimes simplified or reformed.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> By the 16th century, around sixty general customs were recorded and given official status, disqualifying any unrecorded customs from having official status.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> Roman law remained as a reserve, to be used for argumentation and to supplement customary law.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" />

Accompanying the process of centralization and mercantilism, the king effectively initiated {{ILL|processes of codification|fr|Code Louis}} in the mid 17th century.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /><ref>Jean-Louis Halpérin, ''Five Legal Revolutions since the 17th Century: An Analysis of a Global Legal History'' (Springer 2014) 35 ff</ref> [[Jean-Baptiste Colbert]], the Minister of Finance and later also Secretary of the Navy in charge of the colonial empire and trade, was main architect of the codes.<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> The first of such codes is the 1667 Ordinance of Civil Procedure (officially known as the ''Ordonnance pour la reformation de la justice''), which established clear and uniform procedural rules, replacing previous rules in all royal jurisdictions and in [[French colonization of the Americas|the colonies]].<ref>Van Caenegem, ‘History of European Civil Procedure’ (n 2) 45 ff.</ref><ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> The 1667 Ordinance is the main inspiration of the ''[[Napoleonic Code|Code de procedure civile]]'' passed in 1806 under [[Napoleon]].<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> Other codes include the 1670 Criminal Ordinance, the 1673 Ordinance for Overland Trade (''Code Marchand''), and the 1681 Ordinance for Maritime Trade (''Code de la Marine'').<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> Ordinances would later be drawn up on Donations (1731), Wills (1735), Falsifications (1737), and Trustees (1747), but a unified code of private law would not be passed until 1804, under Napoleon and after the [[French Revolution]].<ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> Under King [[Louis XV of France|Louis XV]],<ref>Serge Dauchy, ‘Séance royale du 3 mars 1766 devant le Parlement de Paris dit séance de la Flagellation’ in Julie Benetti, Pierre Egéa, Xavier Magnon, and Wanda Mastor (eds), ''Les Grands discours juridiques, Dalloz, collection les grands arrêts'', 2017.</ref> there would be a constant struggle between royal legislation, traditional conceptions of the law of the Realm (customs and Roman law), and [[Parlement|parliamentary]] ''arrêts de règlements'' (regulatory decisions).<ref>Philippe Payen, ''Les Arrêts de règlement du Parlement de Paris au XVIIIe siècle'' (Presses universitaires de France 1997).</ref><ref name="Dauchy-2018" /> Judges sided with the local parliaments (judicial bodies in France) and the landed aristocracy, undermining royal authority and legislation.<ref>Alexis de Tocqueville, The Old Regime and the French Revolution</ref><ref>Georges Lefebvre, The Coming of the French Revolution 17-18 (Palmer, tr. 1967)</ref>

Even before the French Revolution, French enlightenment thinkingsthinkers like [[Jean-Jacques Rousseau]], with a theory of natural rights, and especially [[Montesquieu]], who advocated for a separation of powers, were major influences on the law throughout Europe and the United States.<ref>Stella Ghervas, ‘The Reception of ''The Spirit of Law'' in Russia: A History of Ambiguities’ in Michel Porret and Catherine Volpilhac-Auger (eds.), ''Le Temps de Montesquieu'' (Droz 2002) 391–403.</ref><ref name="Dauchy-2018" />

French constitutional law includes not only the Constitution itself, but also its preamble which incorporates a list of norms known as ''bloc de constitutionnalité'', including the "[[1971 Freedom of Association Decision|Freedom of Association]]" provision<ref name="CC 71-44">See ''Conseil Constitutionnel'' Decision 71–44 DC, 16 July 1971, ''Liberté d'association'', Rec. 29</ref><ref>{{sfncite Legifrance|text=Décision 71-44 DC of 16 July 1971web|url=https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/cons/id/CONSTEXT000017665605|title=Décision 71-44 DC - 16 juillet 1971 - Loi complétant les dispositions des articles 5 et 7 de la loi du 1er juillet 1901 relative au contrat d'association - Non conformité partielle|work=Legifrance|language=French|access-date=27 February 2023}}</ref> of the Conseil Constitutionnel.

The [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]] (''{{lang|fr|Cour de Cassation''cassation}}) is the highest court and the only national court on civil and criminal matters.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> It has six chambers, five civil chambers: (i) on contract, (ii) on delict, (iii) on family matters, (iv) on commercial matters, (v) on social matters: labour and social security law; and (vi) on criminal law.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008c" /> The court has 85 ''conseillers'', 39 junior ''conseillers réferendaires'', and 18 trainee ''auditeurs.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008c" />'' It typically hears cases in three or five judge panels. A ''chambre mixte'' (a large panel of senior judges) or plenary session (''Assemblée plénière'') can convoke to resolve conflicts or hear important cases.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008c" /> In 2005, it decided over 26,000 cases.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008c" /> The Court of Cassation also gives advisory opinions on the law on reference from lower courts.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008c" />

The [[Constitutional Council (France)|Constitutional Council]] (''{{lang|fr|Conseil Constitutionnel''constitutionnel}}) was created in 1958 with exclusive authority to judge the constitutionality of parliamentary statutes.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> The President may refer a bill in Parliament to the Constitutional Council for constitutional review.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> The Prime Minister, the presidents of both houses of Parliament, and a group of 60 members from either of the two houses may also refer bills or treaties to the Constitutional Council.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> In addition, under Art. 61–1 of the Constitution, beginning in 2008, when individuals allege that their constitutional rights are infringed by legislation in a court proceeding, the [[Court of Cassation (France)|Court of Cassation]] or the [[Conseil d'État (France)|Council of State]] may refer the matter to the Constitutional Council for a preliminary ruling on its constitutionality.<ref name="Steiner-2018a" /> The Constitutional Council has nine members: three are appointed by the President, three by the head of the National Assembly, and three by the head of the Senate.<ref>{{Cite web|title=Guides: French Legal Research Guide: The Layout of the French Legal System|url=https://guides.ll.georgetown.edu/c.php?g=362135&p=2446075|last=Shaw|first=Mabel|website=guides.ll.georgetown.edu|language=en|access-date=2020-05-28}}</ref> Members of the Constitutional Council do not necessarily have legal or judicial training; former French Presidents who retired from politics are eligible to join the Constitutional Council if they wish.<ref name="Bell-Boyron-2008c" />

*{{Cite journalreport

* <!--{{sfn|Bermann|Picard|2008|p=}}--> {{cite book |editor1-last=Bermann |editor1-first=George A. |editor2-last=Picard |editor2-first=Etienne |date=1 January 2008 |title=Introduction to French Law |publisher=Kluwer Law |isbn=978-90-411-2466-1 |oclc=219574344 |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=2ULv4NzlAFEC&pg=PA58}}

;''in English''

* Bell, John, Sophie Boyron, & Simon Whittaker. ''Principles of French law''., Oxford;2nd Newedn. YorkOxford: Oxford University Press, 19982008. {{ISBN|0-19-876394-8}}, {{ISBN|0-19-876395-6}}.

* CairnsBermann, WalterGeorge A. & Étienne Picard, eds. ''Introduction to French law''. LondonAlphen aan den Rijn: Cavendish,Kluwer 1995.Law International, {{ISBN|1-85941-112-6}}2008.

* David, René. ''French Lawlaw: Itsits Structurestructure, Sourcessources and Methodologymethodology''. Trans. Michael Kindred. Baton Rouge, LA: Louisiana State University, 1972.

* Bart, Jean. '''''Histoire du droit'''''. (Paris: Dalloz, c1999)1999. {{ISBN|2-247-03738-0}}.