The Role of the People and the State in French Democracy

Extract

[...] The State can be defined organically as 'being composed of a people governed by rulers organized in a political structure exercising power over a territory.' The State has many roles, the latter must - according to the Constitutional Council - 'enact the rules of law, ensure public safety and order, administer justice, define defense policy, prepare and conduct military operations [but also] define and implement France's foreign policy.' It is the very origin of all territorial organization, it sets a framework to ensure the proper functioning of life in society. It is therefore the creation of Man, it has only one reason to apply the royal laws, namely: order, security, prosperity, justice, and others . The people can be considered as a component of the State. This can be perceived from two notable points of view, the French theory, that of voluntarism developed in large part by Ernest Renan who considered the Nation as: soul, a spiritual principle' to which anyone could adhere by their simple will. [...]

[...] ( A). Or, the State cannot resort to the use of all the means it wishes and use them in the way it desires. It therefore remains limited in the means it undertakes. ( . The means allowing the State to exercise its authority The State - in the intention of directing its people and territory - resorts to several mechanisms as well as various institutions, thus maintaining public order and thereby ensuring the well-being and tranquility of each citizen. [...]

[...] To be interested in the relationships that exist between the State and its people offers the possibility of better understanding the functioning of society. This subject gives rise to reflection on the legitimacy of power, the place of the State and its role towards its inhabitants, or on civic engagement. We can then understand how the State meets the needs of citizens, while maintaining public order and how citizens assert their rights. We can then question the links that the State and its people maintain. There exists between these two protagonists is an authoritarian link exercised by the State. [...]

[...] This is primarily the referendum. Among the referendums, we can distinguish three notable ones: the legislative referendums, which have the purpose of asking citizens for their opinion on a legislative proposal before promulgating and applying it; there are also constitutional referendums, in which the people are called upon to revise the constitution or change it to adopt a new one; we can mention here Article 89 of the Constitution, which provides that constitutional revisions must be submitted to the People, unless the President of the Republic submits the project to Parliament. [...]

[...] Individuals also have the possibility of engaging in associations, for example, they can be volunteers and give their time to the benefit of a cause they want to defend. Simply joining the different associations, therefore, by supporting their actions and approving the causes they defend. Associative engagement can also take a financial form in the case where the citizen would pay funds to the association to encourage and support it in its approaches. He can just as well participate in the organization of events by participating in the setting up or the collection of funds. By engaging, citizens take an active part in the establishment of society. [...]