Constitutional CouncilJudiciary

The Constitutional Council (Conseil constitutionnel) is the highest constitutional authority in France. Its primary role is to ensure that proposed legislation complies with the French Constitution and to oversee the regularity of national elections and referendums. Established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic in 1958, its powers were significantly expanded in 1971 when it incorporated the Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen into constitutional review.