I. Background

France is a civil law system. Thus, the most important sources of French law are the five basic codes (Code civil, Le nouveau code de la procedure civile, Code de commerce, Code pénal, and Code de procedure pénal) and the French Constitution. These sources, along with custom, are primary sources of law. Persuasive sources of law include jurisprudence (court decisions) and doctrine (legal writings). An important distinction in French law lies between "public law" and "private law." Public law includes questions relating to government, the constitution, public administration, and criminal law; private law includes questions of justice between private persons or corporations.

France is a federal parliamentary republic organized into three branches of government, with a strong executive branch. The president appoints the Council of Ministers, which is commonly referred to as the government. The legislative branch (Parlement) is bicameral, consisting of l'Assemblée nationale (National Assembly) and le Sénat (Senate). An English-language version of the National Assembly's website is available, though with limited content: lAssemblée nationale (http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/english/index.asp).

II. Legislation

The French Parliament (Parlement) has the power to enact laws in the following areas: civil rights, nationality, status, capacity of persons, crimes and criminal procedure, currency, inheritance, and taxation. The power to regulate all other subjects rests with the executive.

The Journal Officiel (Official Journal; http://www.journal-officiel.gouv.fr) publishes laws and executive regulations. Laws are effective upon their publication in the Journal. An unofficial version of the Journal (http://www.jura.uni-sb.de/france/JORF/) provides searching and indexes from 1996-1998.

The Journal Officiel is available in Government Publications--Reference at the Wilson Library: Journal officiel de la Republique francaise. Lois et decrets (Paris: s.n.). Proposed bills and parliamentary debates are also published in the Journal, and may be helpful in researching legislative history. The Prime Ministers site also details proposed laws (http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/en/; more complete site in French at http://www.premier-ministre.gouv.fr/fr/).

III. Constitution

France has had many constitutions and amendments to its constitutions. French constitutional law includes the following documents, which combine to form the current French Constitution: The 1958 Constitution (http://www.assemblee-nationale.fr/english/8ab.asp), including its Preamble [which refers to the Rights of Man and the principle of national sovereignty expressed in the 1789 Declaration (http://www.yale.edu/lawweb/avalon/rightsof.htm)]; and the Preamble to the 1946 Constitution. [Links are to English translations, where available.]
The translated text of the constitution can be found in Constitutions of the Countries of the World (K3157.A2 B58).

IV. Codes/Statutes

The French legal system is based on the civil law tradition which has at its core five codes: civil, civil procedure, commercial, criminal, and criminal procedure. Numerous additional codes address other matters; all are available in French at http://195.83.177.9/code/index.phtml?lang=uk. The five major codes, and several others, are also available in French at the Legifrance site; click on the UK flag.

See also the collection of translated statutes and cases at The University of Texas's Institute for Transnational Law, http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/centers/transnational/work_new/

As a member of the European Union, France must also incorporate EU law into its legal system. This body of law will not be discussed in this guide. For information on researching EU law, see the Law Library guide, Researching the European Union (http://local.law.umn.edu/library/pathfinders/euguide.htm).

1. Civil Code (http://195.83.177.9/code/liste.phtml?lang=uk&c=22) Code civil (Paris: Au bureau de la Jurisprudence generale). Annual. KJV 444 .21804 .A5 F73.
There is an English translation available, The French Civil Code, translated with an introduction by John H. Crabb. Rev. ed. (as amended to Jan. 1, 1994) (Littleton, CO: Rothman; Deventer, The Netherlands: Kluwer Law and Taxation Publishers, 1995). KJV 444 .21804 .A52 1995.
2. Code of Civil Procedure (http://195.83.177.9/code/liste.phtml?lang=uk&c=39)
Nouveau code de procedure civile et Code de procedure civile. (Paris: Jurisprudence generale Dalloz). Began with 1976 vol. Annual. KJV 3932.2 .F73x. An English translation is: French Code of Civil Procedure in English, translated by Christian Dodd. (Dobbs Ferry, N.Y.: Oceana Publications, 2004- ). KJV3932.51975 .F74x.
3. Commercial Code (http://195.83.177.9/code/liste.phtml?lang=uk&c=32)
Code de commerce (Paris: Jurisprudence generale Dalloz). Annual. KJV 2193.6 .F73. An English translation is French Commercial Code in English. (Dobbs Ferry, NY: Oceana Publications, c2004- .)KJV2194.31807 .F74x
4. Criminal Code (http://195.83.177.9/code/liste.phtml?lang=uk&c=33)
Code penal annote d'apres la doctrine et la jurisprudence, avec renvois aux publications Dalloz. LAW Foreign Language (Official). A translation is: The French Penal Code of 1994 as Amended as of January 1, 1999, translated by Edward A. Tomlinson; with an introduction by Edward A. Tomlinson (Littleton, Colo.: Fred B. Rothman, 1999). KJV 7974 .31992 A52 1999.
5. Code of Criminal Procedure (http://195.83.177.9/code/liste.phtml?lang=uk&c=34)
Code de procedure penale. (Paris: Jurisprudence generale Dalloz). Began with 1960 ed. Annual KJV 8412.2 .F7. The most recent translation at the Library is The French Code of Criminal Procedure, translated by Gerald L. Kock and Richard S. Frase; with an introduction by Richard S. Frase. Rev. ed. (Littleton, Colo.: F.B. Rothman, 1988). KJV 8412 .41957 .A52 1988. See also Comparative Criminal Procedure ( KJC 9405 .C66x 1996).

Other resources: Listed below are some of the most frequently used sources as well as relevant MNCAT subject searches. These subject searches will retrieve both English and French language materials. Please note that all translations should be taken with a grain of salt because nothing is as authoritative as the original source.

Administrative Law
L. Neville Brown et al., French Administrative Law, 5th ed. (Oxford: Clarendon Press, 1998). KJV 4669 .B76 1998. European Administrative Law (KJE 5602 .S3913 1992) s = Administrative law France
Antitrust Law
Commercial Laws of Europe (KJC2041.3 C66x) Competition Law in Western Europe (K3856 .C65) s = Antitrust law France s = Antitrust law Europe
Business and Commercial Law
French Business Law in Translation (George A. Bermann & Pierre Kirch eds.).  (Huntington, NY: Juris Pub., 2005- ) KJV2199 .B47 (includes among others, sections on securities law, intellectual property, competition, tax, and labor law).

Doing Business in France (New York: Price Waterhouse, 1995). KJV 240 .B87 D65. Christopher Joseph Mesnooh, Law and Business in France: A Guide to French Commercial and Corporate Law (Boston: M. Nijhoff, 1994) KJV 240 .B87 M47 1994. Commercial Laws of the World (K 1004.15. 1976-); Commercial Laws of Europe (KJC2041.3 C66x); Digest of Commercial Laws of the World (K1005.4 .D54); Doing Business in Europe (KJE 959.B87 D63 ) s = Commercial law France s = Commercial law Europe
Criminal Law and Procedure

Catherine Elliott, French Criminal Law (Devon: Willan, 2001.) KJV7979 .E45x 2001 (contains selected provisions of the French Criminal Code in French and in English translation).

Bron McKillop, Anatomy of a French Murder Case (Sydney: Hawkins Press, 1997) KJV 8154 .M33x 1997. Most of the library's materials are in French. Comparative Criminal Procedure (John Hatchard et al. ed.; London: B.I.I.C.L., 1996) KJC 9405 .C66x 1996. Christian Dadomo & Susan Farran, The French Legal System, 2d ed (Reference Office KJV 290 .D33x 1996). [section on criminal procedure, pp.192-221]. s = Criminal law France s = Criminal procedure France
Intellectual Property
WIPO's CLEA database, http://www.wipo.int/clea/en/index.jsp

International Copyright Law and Practice (K1420.5 .I58x 1988) World Patent Law and Practice (K1504.15.W67x) s = Copyright, international s = Intellectual property (international law) s = patents (international law) s = intellectual property (international law)

Labor Law
French Business Law in Translation (George A. Bermann & Pierre Kirch eds.).  (Huntington, NY: Juris Pub., 2005- ) KJV2199 .B47 (includes among others, sections on securities law, intellectual property, competition, tax, and labor law).
International Encyclopaedia for Labour Law (K1705 .I57) s = Labor laws and legislation France s = Labor laws and legislation, international
Real Property
Henry Dyson, French Real Property and Succession Law: A Handbook, 2nd ed. (London: Hale, 1991). KJV 1195.8 .D97x 1991. s = Real property France
Taxation
French Tax & Business Law Guide (Bicester, Oxfordshire: CCH Editions Limited; 1994- ) KJV 2199 .F74x. Tax Laws of the World, France (KK 7104.5 1973x) European Taxation (KJC 7101.3 .E87x).  French Business Law in Translation (George A. Bermann & Pierre Kirch eds.).  (Huntington, NY: Juris Pub., 2005- ) KJV2199 .B47 (includes among others, sections on securities law, intellectual property, competition, tax, and labor law). s = Taxation Europe s = Taxation law and legislation France

To locate a translation or more information on a specific law or a specific topic, see Foreign Law: Current Sources of Codes and Legislation in Jurisdictions of the World, Reynold and Flores (Reference Office K38 .R49 1989- ). For other sources of information about the legal system and legal research, see Section VIII., Research Guides, below. There are many journal and law review articles that also discuss various aspects of French law; see part VI of this guide.

V. Cases & Courts

Precedence does not exist formally in France. Cases do have binding authority over the parties, but not on future cases. Cases do, however, have persuasive value and lower court judges are aware of higher court decisions. Most case reports are published unofficially, by commercial publishers. Generally, English translations of French cases are not available.

Jurisdiction of French courts is divided primarily between l'ordre administratif (administrative courts), and l'ordre judicaire ("ordinary courts"). L'ordre judicaire courts handle both civil and criminal cases. For civil cases, the judiciary consists of higher courts (grande instance) and lower courts (tribunaux d'instance). Criminal cases are tried by tribunaux correctionnels ("courts of correction") and tribunaux de police ("police courts" for minor offenses). The decisions of these courts can be referred to one of the 35 courts of appeal (cours d'appel). The cour d'assizes can also try criminal cases.

The highest court for l'ordre judicaire is the cour de cassation. The cour de cassation is sometimes called the Supreme Court of France. Its cases (back to the 1960s) are searchable at Legifrance here. For l'ordre administratif, the highest court is the conseil d'Etat. Its cases (back to the 1960s) are searchable at Legifrance here. If questions arise as to the appropriate jurisdiction of the courts, they are resolved by the tribunal des conflits. In 1958, France created the Conseil Constitutionnel, which has the power to review the constitutionality of legislation. Cases from this court back to its inception are searchable through Legifrance here.

France has a complicated court system. A useful diagram of its court structure appears on page 51 of The French Legal System, 2d ed (Reference Office KJV 290 .D33x 1996).

Case reports:

The main French legal publisher, Dalloz, has published commentary, cases and legislation in a series of bulletins referred to generally as "Recueil Dalloz:"

Recueil Dalloz (1945-1964). KJV 112 .R428x.
Recueil Dalloz Sirey de doctrine, de jurisprudence et de legislation (1965-1996). KJV 112 .R43.
Recueil Dalloz (1997-1999). KJV 112 .R43.
Recueil le dalloz (1999- ) Published weekly. KJV 112 .R43.

Bulletin des arrets de la Cour de cassation, Chambres civiles (1951- ). KJV 446 .B85x. (Ten issues each year. Earlier decisions reported in Bulletin des arrets de la Cour de Cassation rendus en matiere civile, KJV 446 .B85x.)
La Gazette du palais: jurisprudence et legislation (1887- ) (bimonthly) KJV 80 .G39x.
Recueil des decisions du Conseil d'Etat statuant au contentieux et du Tribunal des Conflits et des jugements des tribunaux administratifs (1821- ; bimonthly 1955- ) KJV 90 .R43x.

See also the collection of translated statutes and cases at The University of Texas's Institute for Transnational Law, http://www.utexas.edu/law/academics/centers/transnational/work_new/ For France, the decisions are from the Conseil Constitutionnel, the Conseil d'Etat and the Cour de Cassation.

VI. Periodicals

As mentioned in part IV of this guide, periodicals are a valuable source of information on French law and the legal system. There are many law reviews and international journals available in English. Most of these journals are indexed in the major periodical indexes: Index to Legal Periodicals, in hardcopy (Call #: Reference K33.I54x) and from the Law Library Lumina workstations and the Law School network in Mondale Hall, Current Law Index (K 33.C87), LegalTrac (web version of Current Law Index) and Index to Foreign Legal Periodicals (French and English language articles) (hard copy Call #: Reference K33.I55x and web version UMTC campus access).

VII. Dictionaries

For help with French legal terminology, you should consult a French legal dictionary. The standard French-English dictionaries will also provide some guidance.

Henry Saint Dahl, Dahl's Law Dictionary: French to English/English to French: An Annotated Legal Dictionary, including authoritative definitions from codes, case law, statutes and legal writing = Dictionnaire juridique Dahl. (Buffalo, N.Y.: W.S. Hein; Paris: Editions Dalloz, 2001.) LAW Reference Office, and 3rd floor, K 52 .F7 D35 2001.
F.H.S. Bridge, The Council of Europe French-English Legal Dictionary. (Strasbourg: Council of Europe Press, 1994.) LAW Reference Office K 52 .F7 B75x 1994.
Cassell's French-English, English-French Dictionary = Dictionnaire francais-anglais, anglais-francais (rev. Denis Girard et al.) (New York: Macmillan, c1981). LAW Reference PC 1640 .C3 1981.

VIII. Research Guides

Research guides are helpful in providing guidance on French legal research as well as more information about the French legal system. See Christian Dadomo & Susan Farran, The French Legal System, 2d ed. (Reference Office KJV 290 .D33x 1996), F.H. Lawson et al., Introduction to French Law (Reference Office KJV 450 .A467x 1967), Brice Dickson, Introduction to French Law (KJV 233 .D53x 1994), or Martin Weston, English Readers Guide to the French Legal System (KJV 234 .W47 1991). Another book that provides an introduction and a list of current French codes is Foreign Law: Current Sources of Codes and Legislation in Jurisdictions Around the World. Available from the Law Library's Law-Related Databases page at http://local.law.umn.edu/library/ERDirectory.html, or at http://foreignlawguide.com/ip/ for U of M community members.

Another useful resource, particularly for comparative law questions, is Raymond Youngs's English, French and German Comparative Law (London: Cavendish, 1998). KJC 147 .Y68 1998.

IX. Internet Resources

Several Web sites provide links to various sources that may be useful in your research. (All sites listed are in French, although Legifrance has many English translations.)
One of the primary sites for French legal research is Legifrance (http://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/). Legifrance includes the Constitution, Le Journal Officiel; Les codes; Les textes consolidés (sélection); Le Conseil constitutionnel; Le Conseil d'Etat; and La Cour de cassation. Admifrance contains administrative law materials: "Rapports officiels en texte integral."
Another site that provides access to French legal materials is France juridique, Juridical France (http://www.strategic-road.com/pays/europe/france03.htm).
La Gazette du Palais includes summaries of legislation back to 1996 and reports related to current legal issues.

For an expanded list of French legal materials on the web, see Emmanuel Barthe, French Law on the Internet - The Basics and Free Resources (http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/French_Law_Free_Resources.htm). Another useful guide to French legal research is Stéphane Cottin and Jérôme Rabenou's guide, Researching French Law, http://www.nyulawglobal.org/globalex/France.htm. It contains links to government, legislative, and academic sources,as well as to commercial services, legal texts, citators, and discussion lists.

The Journal Officiel-lois et decrets from January 2000 is available on LexisNexis (open to U of M law students and faculty only),

Legal > Legal (excluding U.S.) > France > Recherches en francais > Legislation.

A recent creation is a French law wiki: http://wikidroit.droit.org/index.php/Accueil, with general information on French law here: http://wikidroit.droit.org/index.php/French_law.

Updated 1/07.

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