The changing nature of the French Conseil constitutionnel: lessons to be learned in constitutional law

The paper aims to clarify the relationship between the French Conseil constitutionnel and the French executive. Originally criticized for its lack of independence towards the French executive, especially during Charles de Gaulle‘s presidency, it has recently been viewed on a number of occasions as a political opponent by the French Government. The main explanation can be found in the gradual increase in the scope of its operations, beyond what was originally intended by the drafters of the Constitution of the Fifth Republic. English lawyers tend not to be very aware of the role of the Conseil constitutionnel. It seems important that we should look at this from time to time to see what lessons can be learned for the English constitutional system.