The constitution of the Fifth Republic, which was drawn up in 1958 under the guidance of de Gaulle, was intended to create a system that would banish the instability of the Fourth Republic. To do this, it would seem that clear definitions of where certain powers, most notably the executive ones, lay would be an essential ingredient in it. Although arguments over where power lay were not explicitly responsible for the failure of the Fourth Republic, in order to create a system that allowed for substantial political movement, this form of clarity would seem to be a prerequisite. Yet the current French constitution is decidedly vague in specifying whether Prime Minister or President should wield the bulk of executive power. The President has the power to appoint the Prime Minister, but articles 20 and 21 state the it is the Prime Minister who is put "in general charge of the work of government" and who

Some topics in this essay:
Prime Minister, François Mitterand, De Gaulle, National Assembly, De Gaulle's, Fourth Republic, Fifth Republic, Finance Ministry, Valéry Giscard, Minister President, de gaulle, prime minister, national assembly, fifth republic, de gaulle's, fourth republic, president power, giscard d'estaing, strong executive, prime minister president, powers president, valéry giscard d'estaing, acquisition powers president, de gaulle's desire,