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Country Background

France is located in Western Europe, bordering the Bay of Biscay and English Channel, between Belgium, Spain, and Italy. The capital of France is Paris. The official language is French. The country’s population in 2016 was approximately 66.8 million. France is a predominantly Christian country, with about 66% of the population Catholic. Islam is a minority religion in France, and Muslims make up about 9% of the country's population.

Constitution & Legal Structure

France is referred to as a semi-presidential republic. It is a civil law country with judicial review of legislative acts by the Constitutional Court. The system of government is based on principles of separation and checks and balances and has three branches: legislative, executive, and judicial. Its current constitution was ratified in 1958, and was most recently amended in 2008. France is a member state of the European Union. 

Constitutional Status of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no constitutional status in France.

Jurisdiction(s) of Islamic Law

Islamic law has no official jurisdiction of operation in France.

Dominant School of Islamic Law

France has no official school of Islamic law. 

Sources of Law for Legal Research

Official Publications

• Legislative
  
  • Bicameral parliament consisting of Assemblée Nationale and Sena
  • Journal Officiel (official gazette) - see here for before 1990
  • LegiFrance includes laws and regulations in French, with English and Spanish options
  • Napoleonic Code of 1804 in English 
• Executive
• • Présidence
  • Premier Ministre et Gouvernement
  • Ministère de la Justice
  • Lois et réglements laws and regulations; in French
  • Traités et accords internationaux treaties; in French
  • Service-Public
• Judicial
  • Conseil Constitutionnel includes access to decisions, list of leading decisions, and alphabetical list of leading cases in French
  • Conseil d'État
  • Cour de Cassation
  • Jurisprudence
  • Juricaf: France

Unofficial Databases

• FAOLEX: France (Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations) database of national laws and regulations on food, agriculture, and renewable natural resources.
• NATLEX: France (International Labour Organization) database of national laws on labor, social security, and related human rights.
• RefWorld Legal Information: France (UNHCR)
• WIPO Lex: France (World Intellectual Property Organization)

References:

For an extended list of legal resources for this country, see the Library of Congress’s Research Guide, and for a narrative review, see the GlobaLex Foreign Law Research Guide (most updated version, where available). The Constitution is available in the LOC Guide in its original language and at Constitute in English and Arabic translation. For full versions of past constitutions, amendments, and related legislation, see HeinOnline World Constitutions Illustrated or Oxford Constitutions of the World [subscription required for each].