The natural resources in this country are .
coal, iron ore, bauxite, zinc, potash, timber, and fish. They come from the mineral and energy resources, the .
coasts, and forests of France. .
Like the United States, France also has a Bill of Rights. The French version of the U.S. Constitution Bill .
of Rights is called the Rights of Man, and both were created in the best interest of the citizens to ensure freedom .
and equality throughout the nation. France, like the United States, is also a republic. Their branches of .
government include: the Executive Branch, where the President, and Prime Minister are located. The Legislative .
Branch is where the bicameral Parliament or Parlement is located. The Judicial Branch contains the Supreme .
Court of Appeals or Cour de Cassation, the Constitutional Council or Conseil Constitutionnel, and the Council .
of State or Conseil d'Etat. A few powers and responsibilities of some goevrnment departments in France .
include: Parliament has to authorize a declaration of war (Article 35); Parliament is the only department .
that has the right to pass Statutes; members of the French Government shall address either assembly whenever .
they request for one, and Government Commissioners may assist members of the government when they request .
for an assembly (Article 31); Parliament shall comprise the National Assembly and the Senate (Article 24); .
representation of the territorial units of the Republic shall be ensured in the Senate, and French nationals settled .
outside France shall also be represented in the Sena(Article 24). .
The major government officials in France are the president (President Jacques Chirac-since 17 May .
1995), and the prime minister (Prime Minister Jean-Pierre Raffarin-since 7 May 2002). The president is elected .
by popular votes and serves for five years, while the prime minister is nominated by the National Assembly .
majority and appointed by the president.
