'''Cohabitation''' in government occurs in Semi-presidential_systems, such as the France system, when the President and the Prime_Minister come from different Political_parties. Adherents say that it prevents the stagnation of "split majorities" that can occur in Presidential_systems; a concern especially relevant to the French in light of instability and political paralysis of previous French Republics. Critics argue that it can also result in massive political tension in times of crisis, as seen in Sri_Lanka during the later months of 2003.
== Cohabitation in Practice ==
=== France ===
==== History ====
Cohabitation was a product of the French_Fifth_Republic. This Constitution brought together a potent President position with manifold executive powers, and a strong parliament with a Prime_Minister. The president's task was primarily to end deadlock and act decisively to avoid the stagnation prevalent under the French_Fourth_Republic; the Prime Minister, similarly, was to "direct the work of government", providing a strong leadership to the legislative branch and to help overcome partisan squabbles.
From 1962, Presidents are selected by popular vote, replacing an Electoral_college. This switch gave Presidens more power than they might have had under the original constitution, as they are seen as the figurehead of the nation and a unifying agent. Of course, the majority party of the Assembley has power as well, but conflict arose between the two when they were of opposing factions.
As_of_2004, when the Presidential elections were increased in frequency from every seven years to every five years, cohabitation will probably much rarer, as "Split_ticket" voting over the course of two years, whilst rare, is projected to be very uncommon when the elections take place in the same year.
==== Cohabitation in Practice ====
There have been only a few periods of cohabitation, but each is notable for illustrating the oscillation of powers between the President and Prime Minister.
===== 1997-2002 =====
Jacques_Chirac was President during this era of cohabitation.
== Bibliography ==
* http://news.bbc.co.uk/1/hi/world/south_asia/3256649.stm
* Raymond, G (2000) The President: Still a ‘Republican Monarch’? in Raymond, G (ed) Structures of Power in Modern France, Macmillan Press, Basingstoke
* Sartori, G (1997) Comparative Constitutional Engineering, 2nd Ed., Macmillan Press, Basingstoke
* Elgie, R (2003) Political Institutions in Contemporary France, OUP, Oxford
* Knapp, A and Wright, V (2001) The Government and Politics of France, 4th Ed., Routledge, London
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