ABSTRACT
The Constitution expressly asserts the democratic nature of its institutions, by stating that France is a democratic republic (Article 2) and that the authorities must at all times respect this democratic principle by ensuring that every method of voting shall take the form of universal suffrage (Article 3). Other expressions of the democratic principle are the opportunity given to the people to vote on certain issues by means of a referendum (Articles 11 and 89) and the civil liberties guaranteed by the Preamble to the Constitution.
