Conventional Long Form Name - French Republic
Capital City - Paris Type of Government - Constitutional Republic Date of Independence - July 14 1789 (from monarchy) National Holidays: July 14th, Fete de la Federation although often incorrectly referred to as Bastille Day, the celebration actually commemorates the holiday held on the first anniversary of the storming of the Bastille (on 14 July 1789) and the establishment of a constitutional monarchy Chief of State President - Francois Hollandei Head of Government - Prime Minister Manuel Valls Description of Executive Branch/Powers - Council of Ministers appointed by the president at the suggestion of the prime minister , president directly elected by absolute majority popular vote in 2 rounds if needed for a 5-year term; prime minister appointed by the president Description of Legislative Branch/Powers - bicameral Parliament consists of the Senate. Members are indirectly elected by departmental electoral colleges using absolute majority vote in two rounds and members serve 6-year terms. The National Assembly members are directly elected by absolute majority vote in two rounds. Description of Judicial Branch/Powers - Court of Cassation (consists of the court president, 6 divisional presiding judges, 120 trial judges, and 70 deputy judges). The Court of Cassation judges are appointed by the president of the republic from nominations from the High Council of the Judiciary, presided by the Court of Cassation and 15 appointed members; judge term of appointment NA; members serve 9-year, nonrenewable terms. Suffrage - 18 years of age; universal Name of THEIR Ambassador to the U.S. - Gérard Araud Location of THEIR embassy in the U.S. - Washington DC |
Location(s) of THEIR consulate(s) in the U.S. - Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New Orleans, New York, San Francisco, Washington DC Name of U.S. Ambassador to THEM - Jane Hartley Location of U.S. embassy - Paris THERE Location(s) of U.S. consulate(s) - Marseille, Strasbourg Name of THEIR representative to UN - François Delattre Description of the Symbolism of flag - Red, white and blue have come to represent liberty, equality and fraternity - the ideals of the French Revolution. Blue and red are also the time-honored colors of Paris, while white is the color of the Royal House of Bourbon. National Symbol(s) - Gallic rooster, fleur-de-lis, Marianne (female personification); national colors: blue, white, red Descriptions of International Disputes - Madagascar claims the French territories of Bassas da India, Europa Island, Glorioso Islands, and Juan de Nova Island; Comoros claims Mayotte; Mauritius claims Tromelin Island; territorial dispute between Suriname and the French overseas department of French Guiana; France asserts a territorial claim in Antarctica (Adelie Land); France and Vanuatu claim Matthew and Hunter Islands, east of New Caledonia Quantity of refugees inside country AND country(ies) of origin of refugees - 264,972 Quantity of Internally Displaced Persons - N/A Quantity of Stateless Persons - N/A Description of current human trafficking issues related to this country - France is a destination country for women and girls trafficked for sexual exploitation from Eastern Europe, West Africa and several Asian countries. Men, women and children from African countries are trafficked for forced labour, including domestic servitude. The French government estimates that 18,000 to 20,000 women are victims of sex trafficking in the country. Description of Illicit Drug trafficking/use - Large problem with alcohol and cannabis with youth 17 and under |