A visit to France's National Assembly

For my next meeting, I visited the National Assembly. It is always a remarkable experience to visit the halls of the legislature of another country. I am often amazed to learn just how similar we legislate. Claude Joly, from the Communication’s Department of the National Assembly, did a great job in explaining and giving me a tour of the French National Assembly. The French National Assembly is the lower house of the bicameral Parliament of France under the Fifth Republic. The other is the Senate. The National Assembly consists of 577 members, known as députés (deputies). Each elected by a single-member constituency. Deputies are elected in each constituency through a two-round system. Two hundred and eighty-nine seats are required for a majority. It is presided over by a president (currently Bernard Accoyer), normally from the largest party represented and assisted by vice- presidents from across the represented political spectrum. The term of the National Assembly is five years; however, the President of the Republic may dissolve the Assembly. While touring this historic building, one of the amazing facts is that it also serves as the home of the President of the Assembly. I was given a private tour and was overwhelmed by the beauty and grandeur of the great halls and rooms filled with beautiful tapestry, along with great works of art. It was nothing short of magnificent.