Constitution of the Fifth French Republic 1958, as amended to 2008
Status of International Law
  • English
    The French Republic, faithful to its traditions, shall respect the rules of public international law.
    … (1946 Preamble, Sec. 14)
  • French
    La République française, fidèle à ses traditions, se conforme aux règles du droit public international.
    … (Préambule 1946, Sec. 14)
Status of International Law
  • English
    The Republic may recognize the jurisdiction of the International Criminal Court as provided for by the Treaty signed on 18 July 1998. (1958 Constitution, Art. 53-2)
  • French
    La République peut reconnaître la juridiction de la Cour pénale internationale dans les conditions prévues par le traité signé le 18 juillet 1998. (Constitution 1958, Art. 53-2)
Status of International Law
  • English
    If the Constitutional Council, on a referral from the President of the Republic, from the Prime Minister, from the President of one or the other Houses, or from sixty Members of the National Assembly or sixty Senators, has held that an international undertaking contains a clause contrary to the Constitution, authorization to ratify or approve the international undertaking involved may be given only after amending the Constitution. (1958 Constitution, Art. 54)
  • French
    Si le Conseil constitutionnel, saisi par le Président de la République, par le Premier ministre, par le président de l'une ou l'autre assemblée ou par soixante députés ou soixante sénateurs, a déclaré qu'un engagement international comporte une clause contraire à la Constitution, l'autorisation de ratifier ou d'approuver l'engagement international en cause ne peut intervenir qu'après révision de la Constitution. (Constitution 1958, Art. 54)
Status of International Law
  • English
    Treaties or agreements duly ratified or approved shall, upon publication, prevail over Acts of Parliament, subject, with respect to each agreement or treaty, to its application by the other party. (1958 Constitution, Art. 55)
  • French
    Les traités ou accords régulièrement ratifiés ou approuvés ont, dès leur publication, une autorité supérieure à celle des lois, sous réserve, pour chaque accord ou traité, de son application par l'autre partie. (Constitution 1958, Art. 55)
Status of International Law
  • English
    The Republic shall participate in the European Union constituted by States which have freely chosen to exercise some of their powers in common by virtue of the Treaty on European Union and of the Treaty on the Functioning of the European Union, as they result from the treaty signed in Lisbon on 13 December, 2007. (1958 Constitution, Art. 88-1)
  • French
    La République participe à l’Union européenne constituée d’États qui ont choisi librement d’exercer en commun certaines de leurs compétences en vertu du traité sur l’Union européenne et du traité sur le fonctionnement de l’Union européenne, tels qu’ils résultent du traité signé à Lisbonne le 13 décembre 2007. (Constitution 1958, Art. 88-1)
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Constitution of France 1958, as amended to 2008 (English). The constitutional order of France is made up of different texts. According to the Preamble of the 1958 Constitution: "The French people solemnly proclaim their attachment to the Rights of Man and the principles of national sovereignty as defined by the Declaration of 1789, confirmed and complemented by the Preamble to the Constitution of 1946, and to the rights and duties as defined in the Charter for the Environment of 2004." According to Art. 2 of the 1958 Constitution: "The language of the Republic shall be French. ..."

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Constitution of France 1958, as amended to 2008 (French).

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