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Parliamentary Control of Nationalized Industry in France

Published online by Cambridge University Press:  02 September 2013

Edward G. Lewis
Edward G. Lewis
Affiliation:
University of Illinois
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Extract

In controlling nationalized industries parliament plays the role of the traditional lion under the throne. It lies quietly most of the time but can rise suddenly and wrathfully to smite offenders. It has little day-to-day influence, the major decisions being made by the managers of the industries, or by the government; but occasionally its importance is capital. This conclusion emerges from a study of the methods used by parliament to control the nationalized industries. Since these industries are fundamental to the French economy, in reality this is a study of the ways and means by which parliament controls major segments of the national economy—in every industrial state a controversial and highly significant issue.

Type
Research Article
Information
American Political Science Review , Volume 51 , Issue 3 , September 1957 , pp. 669 - 683
Copyright
Copyright © American Political Science Association 1957

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References

1 For general background, see: Einaudi, Byé, and Rossi, , Nationalization in France and Italy (Ithaca, 1955)Google Scholar; Le fonctionnement des entreprises nationalisées en France (Paris: Dalloz, 1956)Google Scholar. (This is a collection of papers delivered at the 3d colloque of the Faculties of Law, at Grenoble, June 9 to 11, 1955.) Rivero, Jean, “Le fonctionnement des entreprises nationalisées (Réflexions sur le 3e colloque des Facultés de Droit).” Droit Social, Vol. 18 (November, 1955), pp. 533–538Google Scholar. In reply, “A propos du contrôle des entreprises nationalisées.” Droit Social, Vol. 19 (February, 1956), pp. 65–68Google Scholar. Chenot, Bernard, Les entreprises nationalisées (Paris: Presses Universitaires de France, 1956)Google Scholar.

2 de Tinguy du Pouët, Lionel, “Les entreprises nationales et le parlement,” Revue Politique des Idées et des Institutions, Vol. 44 (October 30, 1955), pp. 481–495Google Scholar.

3 For a discussion of the background and course of nationalization, see “Les nationalisations en France et en Grande Bretagne,” in Notes documentaires et études, no. 983 (Paris: Présidence du conseil, Service de la documentation, 1948)Google Scholar.

4 Article 70, law no. 47–520. Journal Officiel (Lois et Décrets), March 25, 1947, p. 2774Google Scholar. (Hereafter, J.O. (L).)

5 The author was M. Maurice Villette, a member of the finance committee, belonging to the Rally of the Left Republicans (R.G.R.). His suggestion was extended by an amendment from the floor of the Assembly, proposed by M. Jacques Bardoux, belonging to a group allied with the Popular Republican Movement (M.R.P.). J.O., Parl. Deb., N.A., Dec. 21, 1946, pp. 206 ffGoogle Scholar; February 8, 1947, pp. 251–254. J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 363 (1947).

6 Rivero, loc. cit., and Chenot, Bernard, “Les paradoxes de l'entreprise publique,” in Revue Française de Science Politique, Vol. 5 (Oct.-Dec., 1955), pp. 725–735CrossRefGoogle Scholar.

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9 Law of Dec. 31, 1953, article 28, J.O. (L), Jan. 5, 1954, p. 131. J.O., Parl. Deb., N.A., Dec. 14, 1953, p. 6747Google Scholar; Dec. 31, 1953, p. 7277; Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 7270 (1953); Parl. Deb., C. of R., Dec. 31, 1953, p. 2848Google Scholar; Parl. Doc., C. of R., Annexe 692 (1953).

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11 See above, note 10.

12 For comments as well as the text of the decision, see Vedel, G., “Le contrôle par les commissions parlementaires de la gestion des entreprises industrielles nationalisées et des sociétés d'économie mixte,” Droit Social, Vol. 18 (March, 1955), pp. 137–145Google Scholar.

13 Law of April 3, 1955, Article 23. No. 55–366; J.O. (L), April 6, 1955, pp. 3415 ff.

14 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 10002 (1955), pp. 215–216Google Scholar; Parl. Doc., C. of R. Annexe 187 (1955), pp. 424–425Google Scholar; Parl. Deb., C. of R., March 31, 1955, pp. 1206–1211Google Scholar.

15 See, for example, Bulletin des Commissions (Assemblée Nationale), no. 117 (May 10, 1955), pp. 2692–2693Google Scholar.

16 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 6774 (1949).

17 Ibid., Annexe 13050 (1951).

18 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 4703 (1957).

19 J.O., Parl. Doc., C. of R., Annexe 286 (1953).

20 See, for example, Charbonnages de France, Rapport de Gestion, Exercice 1955 (Paris: Charbonnages de France, 1956), pp. 107–108Google Scholar.

21 J.O., Parl. Doc., C. of R., Annexe 200 (1956).

22 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 4629 (1948).

23 Ibid., Annexe 12876 (1951).

24 Ibid., Annexe 9064 (1954).

25 Ibid., Annexe 8084 (1954).

26 Ibid., Annexe 10942 (1955).

27 Ibid., Annexe 7085 (1953).

28 Ibid., Annexes 10357 and 11759 (1955).

29 J.O., Parl. Doc., C. of R., Annexes 149 and 762 (1950).

30 Ibid., Annexe 110 (1953).

31 Ibid., Annexe 454 (1956).

32 Ibid., Annexe 684 (1956).

33 See, for example, the report of the Conseil Economique, November, 1947, in J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 2670, pp. 2443–2445. Also, ibid., Annexe 6027 (1948). A general statute was required by the law of April 3, 1955, but has not been pushed forward.

34 This point is forcefully made in the Rapport Annuel de Gestion du Président-Directeur-Général (Paris: Réggie Nationale des Usines Renault, 1949), pp. 38–39Google Scholar.

35 No. 55–360, J.O. (L), April 5, 1955, pp. 3378 ff.

36 J.O., Parl. Deb., N.A., Mar. 12, 1954, p. 810Google Scholar.

37 Decrees no. 53–416 to 420, May 11, 1953, J.O. (L), May 12, 1953, pp. 4432 ff.

38 Decrees no. 53–412 to 415, J.O. (L), May 12, 1953, pp. 4329 ff.

39 No. 50–968, J.O. (L), August 13, 1950, pp. 8632 ff.

40 Decree of August 9, 1953, no. 53-707, J.O. (L), August 10, 1953, p. 7051.

41 Decree of May 26, 1955, no. 55-733, J.O. (L), June 1, 1955, p. 5547.

42 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 2937 (1947), and first report of the Commission for Verification, J.O., Annexe Administrative, August 21, 1949, p. 370Google Scholar.

43 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 2944 (1947).

44 J.O., Parl. Deb., N.A., Dec. 31, 1947, p. 6614Google Scholar.

45 Ibid., Dec. 31, 1947, p. 6612.

46 By the law of January 6, 1948, articles 56–64 (no. 48-24, J.O. (L), January 7, 1948, pp. 191, 207) the commission is made up of distinguished administrators. Its president, a member of the chamber of the Court of Accounts, is chosen by decree on nomination of the Ministers of Finance and of Economic Affairs. Three other members are magistrates of the Court of Accounts; the roster is completed by two representatives from the Ministries of Finance and Economic Affairs.

47 For a list, see Maillet-Chassagne, Monique, Influence de la Nationalisation sur la Geslion des Entreprises Publiques (Paris: Société d'Edition d'Enseignement Supérieur, 1956)Google Scholar, Chapter II.

48 Morange, Georges, “La réforme des institutions budgétaires françaises,” in Revue de Science Financière, Vol. 4 (Oct.-Dec., 1956), pp. 644–659Google Scholar.

49 Article 17, paragraph 1 and 2.

50 For a general discussion of the procedure used before the reforms of 1956, and a brief comment on them, see Duverger, Maurice, Institutions financières (Paris: Presses Universitaires, 1956)Google Scholar, and Trotabas, Louis, Institutions financières (Paris: Dalloz, 1956)Google Scholar.

51 This budget was technically a supplement to the credits granted by the laws of August 6, 1955 (nos. 55-1043 and 1044).

52 J.O., Parl. Doc., N.A., Annexe 1862 (1956).

53 See above, note 18.

54 J.O., Parl. Deb., N.A., June 6, 1956, pp. 2372–2378Google Scholar.

55 J.O., Parl. Deb., N.A., pp. 1903, 2087, 2282–2288 (1947)Google Scholar.

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