Deputies ( French: ''députés''), also known in English as Members of Parliament (MPs), are the

legislator A legislator (also known as a deputy or lawmaker) is a person who writes and passes laws, especially someone who is a member of a legislature. Legislators are often elected by the people of the state. Legislatures may be supra-national (for ex ...

s who sit in the

National Assembly In politics, a national assembly is either a unicameral legislature, the lower house of a bicameral legislature, or both houses of a bicameral legislature together. In the English language it generally means "an assembly composed of the rep ...

, the lower house of the

French Parliament The French Parliament (french: Parlement français) is the bicameral legislature of the French Republic, consisting of the Senate () and the National Assembly (). Each assembly conducts legislative sessions at separate locations in Paris ...

. The 15th and current legislature of the Fifth Republic has a total of 577 deputies, elected in 577 constituencies across metropolitan (539) and

overseas France Overseas France (french: France d'outre-mer) consists of 13 France, French-administered territories outside Europe, mostly the remains of the French colonial empire that chose to remain a part of the French state under various statuses after ...

(27), as well as for French residents overseas (11).

Name

The term "deputy" is associated with the legislator's task to deputise for the people of his constituency.

Current

There are currently 577 French deputies. They are elected through the

two-round system The two-round system (TRS), also known as runoff voting, second ballot, or ballotage, is a voting method used to elect a single candidate, where voters cast a single vote for their preferred candidate. It generally ensures a majoritarian resu ...

single-member A single-member district is an electoral district represented by a single officeholder. It contrasts with a multi-member district, which is represented by multiple officeholders. Single-member districts are also sometimes called single-winner vo ...

constituencies An electoral district, also known as an election district, legislative district, voting district, constituency, riding, ward, division, or (election) precinct is a subdivision of a larger state (a country, administrative region, or other polity ...

. In 2019, it was reported that the Government of France wanted to cut the number of deputies by 25%. This reform was later abandoned due to a lack of support in the Senate.

Numbers

The number of deputies is codified in the Constitution of France.

Restrictions and privileges

Deputies have parliamentary immunity. They can have a dual mandate at the local level (most notably municipal, departmental, regional councillor) but a new law that entered in application in 2017 has limited the practice's extent by restricting deputies' ability to serve in local executives. Deputies are paid 5,782.66 euros per month.

Eligibility

Lists

References

{{Legislatures of the French Fifth Republic National Assembly (France) Government of France