political

Fifth Republic Constitution — De Gaulle's Presidential System

| France

Charles de Gaulle returns to power during the Algerian crisis and drafts a new constitution approved by referendum (79.2% in favor), creating the Fifth Republic with a powerful directly-elected president. The constitution shifts power from Parliament to the executive, establishing the 'presidential-parliamentary' hybrid system still in force today. De Gaulle becomes the first president of the Fifth Republic.

  • T1 Journal officiel – Constitution du 4 octobre 1958 Official western
  • T3 Maurice Duverger, La Cinquième République (PUF) Institutional western