1 French Constitutional History: A Difficult Coming of Age --
The Constitutional Big-Bang': The Revolution of 1789 --
The Difficult Implementation of Constitutionalism --
Understanding French Constitutional History --
Conclusion: The Merger of Constitutional Traditions? --
2 In Search of the Constitutional Fundamentals --
The Legitimacy of the 1958 Constitution --
The Integrity of the 1958 Constitution --
The Efficiency of the 1958 Constitution: The Political System --
Conclusion: Something Old, Something New --
3 The Primacy of the Executive --
The Origins - The Search for a Strong Executive --
The President of the Republic: From Strength to Strength --
A Contested Bicephalous Executive --
The Difficult Accountability of the Executive --
Conclusion --
4 Towards a Renewal of the Parliament --
A Return to Institutional Autonomy? --
The Constitutional Status of Members of Parliament --
Parliament's Work: A Great Improvement --
Conclusion: Further Reform? --
5 The Rise of Judicial Power --
The Search for Judicial Independence --
The Rise of the Conseil constitutionnel --
Towards a Judicial Power? --
Conclusion --
6 The Constitution and its People --
The French People and the Constitution --
The Sovereign Expression of the French People --
A Culture of Rights Protection --
Conclusion: A 'New' Citizen? --
7 From Centralised Unity to Multilevel Constitutionalism --
The Rise of Territorial Government --
Keeping a Check on the European Union --
Conclusion --
8 The Dynamics of Constitutional Change --
The Amendment Procedure: A Question of Choice? --
The Dynamics of Constitutional Change --
The Trends for Constitutional Reform --
Conclusion --
Index.