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2007 Assessment

France: Integrity Indicators Scorecard

France: Integrity Scorecard Report > Sub-Category: Budget Processes
Indicators		Score
37	Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?	83
38	Can citizens access the national budgetary process?	50
39	In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?	100
40	Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?	75

Indicator and sub-Indicator Details

Can the legislature provide input to the national budget?

37a: In law, the legislature can amend the budget.

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Organic Law 2001-692 of Aug. 1, 2001, [ LINK ]

37b: In practice, significant public expenditures require legislative approval.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: All significant government expenditures (defined as any project costing more than 1% of the total national budget), must be approved by the legislature. This includes defense and secret programs, which may be debated in closed hearings. 50 Score Criteria: Most significant government expenditures (as defined) are approved by the legislature, but some exceptions to this rule exist. This may include defense programs, an executive\'s personal budget, or other expenses. 0 Score Criteria: The legislature does not have the power to approve or disapprove large portions of the government budget, or the legislature does not exercise this power in a meaningful way.$

Comments:

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Senat, La LOLF, nouvelle constitution financière de l'Etat, April 2007, [ LINK ]

37c: In practice, the legislature has sufficient capacity to monitor the budget process and provide input or changes.

Score:

100

Comments: The legislature usually has the necessary competencies to monitor the budget process but, in comparison with the legislature of other countries, does not have much budgetary powers to provide input or changes.

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Senat, La LOLF, nouvelle constitution financière de l'Etat, April 2007, [ LINK ]

Can citizens access the national budgetary process?

38a: In practice, the national budgetary process is conducted in a transparent manner in the debating stage (i.e. before final approval).

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Senat, La LOLF, nouvelle constitution financière de l'Etat, April 2007, [ LINK ]

38b: In practice, citizens provide input at budget hearings.

Score:

100

Comments: Citizens can only rely on their representatives in Parliament to provide input on their behalf.

References: Daniel Hochedez, La mission dévaluation et de contrôle (MEC);

Une volonté de retour aux sources du Parlement : la défense du citoyen contribuable, Assemblée Nationale, December 1999, [ LINK ];

Assemblée Nationale, Les missions d'évaluation et de contrôle, Fiche No 46, 2007, [ LINK ];

C6R, Lettre No 4, October 2006, [ LINK ]

38c: In practice, citizens can access itemized budget allocations.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: C6R, Lettre No 4, October 2006, [ LINK ];

Ministry for Culture and Communication, Budget 2006 du Ministère de la culture et de la communication, Sept. 28, 2005, [ LINK ]; Daniel Hochedez, La mission dévaluation et de contrôle (MEC);

Une volonté de retour aux sources du Parlement: la défense du citoyen contribuable, Assemblée Nationale, December 1999, [ LINK ];

Assemblée Nationale, Les missions d'évaluation et de contrôle, Fiche No 46, 2007, [ LINK ]

In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

39: In law, is there a separate legislative committee which provides oversight of public funds?

Score:

YES

Comments:

References: Commission des finances, du contrôle budgétaire et des comptes économiques de la Nation: Senate rules, [ LINK ]

Is the legislative committee overseeing the expenditure of public funds effective?

40a: In practice, department heads regularly submit reports to this committee.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Senat, La LOLF, nouvelle constitution financière de l'Etat, April 2007, [ LINK ]

40b: In practice, the committee acts in a non-partisan manner with members of opposition parties serving on the committee in an equitable fashion.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties in a roughly equitable distribution. All members of the committee -- including opposition party members -- are able to fully participate in the activities of the committee and influence the committee\'s work to roughly the same extent as any other member of the committee. 50 Score Criteria: The committee is comprised of legislators from both the ruling party (or parties) and opposition parties although the ruling party has a disproportionate share of committee seats. The chairperson of the committee may be overly influential and curb other members\' ability to shape the committee's activities. 0 Score Criteria: The committee is dominated by legislators of the ruling party and/or the committee chairperson. Opposition legislators serving on the committee have in practice no way to influence the work of the committee.$

Comments:

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Senat, La LOLF, nouvelle constitution financière de l'Etat, April 2007, [ LINK ]

40c: In practice, this committee is protected from political interference.

Score:

100

$Scoring Criteria :: 100 Score Criteria: This committee operates independently of the political process, without incentive or pressure to render favorable judgments on politically sensitive issues. Investigations are rarely praised or criticized by political figures. 50 Score Criteria: This committee is usually independent but is sometimes influenced by negative or positive political incentives. This may include public praise or criticism by the government. 0 Score Criteria: This committee is commonly influenced by personal or political forces or incentives. This may include conflicting family relationships, professional partnerships, or other personal loyalties that ultimately influence the committee\'s behavior and decision-making. Negative incentives may include threats, harassment or other abuses of power by the government.$

Comments: The committee is theoretically independent but it is a parliamentary committee made of politicians who sometimes have been former government members or hope to become one in the future, so in practice a total lack of political interference is difficult to obtain.

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Daniel Hochedez, La mission d'évaluation et de contrôle (MEC) Une volonté de retour aux sources du Parlement: la défense du citoyen contribuable, Assemblée Nationale, December 1999, [ LINK ];

Assemblée Nationale, Les missions d'évaluation et de contrôle, Fiche No 46, 2007, [ LINK ]

40d: In practice, when necessary, this committee initiates independent investigations into financial irregularities.

Score:

100

Comments:

References: Ministry of Finance, Les nouvelles modalités de vote du budget, [ LINK ]; Senat, Rapport sur l'enquête de la Cour des comptes relative aux frais de justice pénale, 2006, [ LINK ];

Travaux de la Commission des finances, 9 mars 2006, [ LINK ]; Table nominative Jean Arthuis, [ LINK ]