The Conseil constitutionnel is France's constitutional court, established in 1958 under the Fifth Republic to review the constitutionality of legislation, supervise national elections and referendums, and rule on disputed parliamentary elections. Seated in the Palais-Royal in Paris, it is composed of nine appointed members serving nonrenewable nine-year terms, joined by former Presidents of the Republic who choose to sit. Its role expanded substantially from the 1970s onward, moving from technical oversight of parliamentary procedure to a central guardian of fundamental rights.
Facts
Founding Year Founded Date Jurisdiction ScopeIt is a court vested with various powers, including in particular the review of the constitutionality of legislation, plus oversight of national elections and referendums and adjudication of contested parliamentary elections. 1 Jurisdiction Scope
Jurisdiction Scope (category) Connections
Has Member
Source Alain Juppe (Wikipedia)
Source Fran?ois Pillet (Wikipedia)
Source Georges Vedel (Wikipedia)
Source Guy Canivet (Wikipedia)
Source Jacqueline Gourault (Wikipedia)
Source Jacques M?zard (Wikipedia)
Source Laurence Vichnievsky (Wikipedia)
Source Richard Ferrand (Wikipedia)
In Legal System
Source Constitutional Council (France) (Wikipedia)
In the Other Atlases
- Also in Geography Atlas: France, found in there.
- Also in Geography Atlas: Paris, located there.
Sources
1. Conseil Constitutionnel, Official Website
Conseil constitutionnelThe Institution sectionQuote, The Institution section
It is a court vested with various powers, including in particular the review of the constitutionality of legislation.
2. Constitutional Council (France) (Wikipedia)
WikipediaLead section
The Constitutional Council is the highest constitutional authority in France. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958 to ensure that constitutional principles and rules are upheld.
- In Legal System: French Legal System
View the Source Guy Canivet (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Guy Canivet, Lead sectionQuote, Has Member: Guy Canivet, Lead section
On 22 February 2007, Jean-Louis Debré, president of the French National Assembly, appointed Guy Canivet to the Constitutional Council of France, replacing Jean-Claude Colliard.
Laurence Vichnievsky (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Laurence Vichnievsky, Article textQuote, Has Member: Laurence Vichnievsky, Article text
Laurence Vichnievsky (born 5 February 1955 in Boulogne-Billancourt, Hauts-de-Seine) is a French magistrate and politician who has been serving as a member of the Constitutional Council since 2025.
Jacqueline Gourault (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Jacqueline Gourault, Wikipedia category: cat:Members of the Constitutional Council (France)View the Source Richard Ferrand (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Richard Ferrand, Article textQuote, Has Member: Richard Ferrand, Article text
Richard Ferrand (French pronunciation: [ʁiʃaʁ fɛʁɑ̃]; born 1 July 1962) is a French politician of Renaissance who has served as President of the Constitutional Council since 8 March 2025.
Fran?ois Pillet (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Francois Pillet, Article textQuote, Has Member: Francois Pillet, Article text
François Pillet (born 13 May 1950) is a French lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the Constitutional Council since 2019.
Alain Juppe (Wikipedia)
Has Member: Alain Juppe, Wikipedia category: cat:Members of the Constitutional Council (France)View the Source Jacques M?zard (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Jacques Mezard, Article textQuote, Has Member: Jacques Mezard, Article text
Jacques Martin Mézard (French pronunciation: [ʒak mezaʁ]; born 3 December 1947) is a French lawyer and politician who has served as a member of the Constitutional Council since 2019.
Georges Vedel (Wikipedia)
WikipediaHas Member: Georges Vedel, Wikipedia category: cat:Members of the Constitutional Council (France)View the Source Frequently Asked Questions
What does the Conseil constitutionnel do?
It reviews legislation for constitutionality and oversees elections and referendums.
France's constitutional court reviews the constitutionality of legislation, supervises national elections and referendums, and rules on disputed parliamentary elections. It was established by the Constitution of the Fifth Republic on 4 October 1958.
Who sits on the Conseil constitutionnel and for how long?
Nine appointed members with nonrenewable nine-year terms, plus former Presidents who choose to sit.
It has nine appointed members serving nonrenewable nine-year terms, joined by former Presidents of the Republic who choose to sit. It is seated in the Palais-Royal in Paris.
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