What type of government does France have?

France has a semi-presidential system of government. It is jointly headed by a president and a prime minister.

The provisions for the governance of the Fifth Republic of France are determined by the French Constitution. The government is divided between the executive, legislative and judicial branches. The president appoints the prime minister, whose position can be revoked by the National Assembly through a censure motion. Parliament is divided into the Senate and the National Assembly, while the independent judiciary has an administrative division and a judicial division. The French government has various checks and balances to ensure that each branch does not abuse its power.