At stake in this Referendum:

• This referendum is to approve the new European Union Constitution.

Description of government structure:

• Chief of State: President Jacques CHIRAC
• Head of Government: Prime Minister Dominique DE VILLEPIN
• Assembly: France has a bicameral Parliament (Parlement) consisting of the Senate (Sénat) with 321 seats and the National Assembly (Assemblée Nationale) with 577 seats.

Main provisions in the Referendum:

• This referendum is to approve the new European Union Constitution. "Do you approve of the law project which authorizes the ratification of the treaty giving Europe a Constitution? "
  "Approuvez-vous le projet de loi qui autorise la ratification du traité établissant une Constitution pour l'Europe?"

Electoral Requirements

• Popular majority is required for the referendum to pass.

Population and number of registered voters:

• Population: 63,179,356 (2005)
• Registered Voters: 41,789,202 (May 2005)

Gender Data:

·         Female Population: 32,349,115 (2005)

·         Is France a signatory to CEDAW: Yes (17 July 1980)

·         Has France ratified CEDAW: Yes (14 December 1980)

·         Gender Quota: Yes

·         Female candidates in this election: N/A

·         Number of Female Parliamentarians: 71 (National Assembly) following 2002 election; 56 (Senate) following 2004 election) 

·         Human Development Index Position: 22 (2014)

·         Social Institutions and Gender Index (SIGI) Categorization: Very Low

Disability Data:

·         Is France a signatory to CRPD: Yes (30 March 2007)

·         Has France ratified CRPD: Yes (18 February 2010)

·         Population with a disability: 9,476,903 (est.)