The state of siege is decreed in the Council of Ministers. The National Assembly then meets
of right if it is not in session.
The extension of the state of siege beyond fifteen days can only be authorized by the National
Assembly, by the simple majority of the Deputies.
Article 75
The President of the Republic can, for the execution of his program, demand of the National
Assembly, the authorization to take by ordinance, for a limited time, the measures which are
normally of the domain of the law. The ordinances are taken in the Council of Ministers after
the possible advice [avis éventuel] of the Constitutional Council. They enter into force on
their publication but, become lapsed if the bill of law of ratification is not deposited before the
Parliament prior to the date established by the enabling law. After the expiration of the time
limit mentioned in the first paragraph of this article, the ordinances can only be further
modified by the law in their provisions which are of the legislative domain.
Article 76
The proposals and amendments which are not of the domain of the law are irreceivable. The
irreceivability is declared by the President of the National Assembly. In the case of dispute,
the Constitutional Council, seized [saisir] by the President of the Republic, or by one-quarter
at least of the Deputies, decides in a time period of fifteen days counting from its seizing.
Article 77
The laws can, before their promulgation, be deferred to the Constitutional Council by the
President of the National Assembly or by one-tenth at least of the Deputies or by the
parliamentary groups. The associations of the defense of the Rights of Man legally constituted
can equally defer to the Constitutional Council the laws concerning the public freedoms. The
Constitutional Council decides in a time period of fifteen days counting from its seizing.
Article 78
The Deputies have the right of amendment. The proposals and amendments deposited by the
members of the National Assembly are not receivable when their adoption would have as a
consequence either a reduction of the public resources, or the creation or aggravation of a
public debt, unless they would be accompanied by a proposal of augmentation of receipts or
of equivalent economies.
Article 79
The National Assembly votes the bill of the Law of Finance within the conditions determined
by law.
Article 80
The National Assembly is seized [saisir] with the bill of the Law of Finance from the opening
of the October session. The bill of the Law of Finance must provide the receipts necessary for
the integral covering of expenses. The National Assembly votes the balanced budget. If the