Parliament and the french government's domination of the legislative process

The Fifth Republic sought to overcome the previously excessive subordination of government to parliament by constitutionally imposed procedural rules in the anticipated absence of stable parliamentary majorities. Despite their existence, governments have used the package vote, control over amendments and the rules governing oral and written questions to ministers to avoid parliament enforcing ministerial accountability. The government's stringent control of the budgetary process has led to the ambitious 2001 procedural reassertion of National Assembly financial control, which is gradually coming into operation by 2006. Parliament has been playing an increasing role in European Union legislation.