By article 24 of
the Constitution of 4 October 1958 the National Assembly and the Senate together
constitute the French Parliament.
The National Assembly consists of 577 deputies elected for five years.
The life of the Assembly may be shortened if it is dissolved by the President
of the Republic under article 12 of the Constitution.
The National Assembly has two main functions : to adopt statutes and to supervise
the Government.
Its members do this as provided by the Constitution, and more specifically by
the Ordinance of 17 November 1958 on the functioning of the parliamentary assemblies,
and by the Rules of Procedure of the National Assembly itself.
For more information go to http://www.assemblee-nat.fr