I. –  The Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament
 plays an important role in the implementation of governmental policy

1. –   He coordinates the legislative programme of the Government

The implementation of governmental policy is carried out mainly through the passing of laws. The drawing-up of the legislative part of the agenda of the assemblies is essentially in the hands of the Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament who must take into account both the desires of the ministers and the work load of the Parliament. Thus, he must be aware of the progress of the bills proposed by his colleagues and of the wishes of the parliamentarians.

So as to be aware of the consequences of the different governmental bills and the technical or political problems which might arise during parliamentary debates, he is represented at the inter-ministerial meetings which take place in order to harmonize the positions of the various ministries.

He also takes part in the meetings which select the bills to be included on the agendas of the assemblies and which decide on the calendar for the examination of these bills.

He is included in the drawing-up of the legislative part in the Council of Ministers and this enables him to set a priority calendar for the bills and to propose their inclusion on the agendas of one or other of the assemblies.

2. –  He plays a role of mediation between parliament and Government

Generally speaking, the Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament should facilitate the relations between the ministers and the parliamentarians. Notably he must foresee the possibility of difficulties arising between the Government and the governing majority.

 Thus, he participates in meetings of the political groups which make up the ruling majority and he transmits to them information concerning governmental policy. This allows him to alert his colleagues to the reactions of the political groups and to the positions of M.P.s.

II. –  The Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament
 plans the parliamentary work and coordinates the presence of the Government in the parliament

1. –  He contributes to the drawing-up of the agenda

Article 48 of the Constitution grants the Government control of the agenda of the assemblies.

The Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament attends, during the sessions, the meetings of the Conference of Presidents which take place in each of the assemblies (every week at the National Assembly and every two weeks on average at the Senate) and which, under the chairmanship of the President of the assembly concerned, bring together the vice-presidents, the chairmen of the standing committees, the Chairman of the Delegation for the European Union, the General Rapporteur of the Finance Committee and the chairmen of the political groups. At this meeting he transmits the priority agenda drawn up by the Government for the following three weeks. At the beginning of each session and then approximately midway through the session, he informs the Conference of Presidents of the subjects the Government intends to refer to Parliament and of the period envisaged for their discussion.

The agenda set by the Conference of Presidents may, however, be modified at any time, by a letter of revision or by a statement in plenary sitting. In such a case, Parliament is usually informed by the Minister in Charge of Relations with the Parliament.

2. –  He ensures the permanent presence of Government in the parliamentary debates

During the legislative debates, he ensures that there is a permanent governmental presence in the sitting, notably by making sure that the relevant ministers are present during the debates which concern them.

He plays the same role during question time, which he organizes for the Government by collecting the parliamentarians’ questions and organizing the means of reply of the Government.

3. –  He follows the debates

The minister is very much present during the sittings of the assemblies. It can happen that he replaces his absent colleagues, notably during question time.

He ensures the correct running of the debates and it is also his task to advise members of the Government on the attitude to adopt in one circumstance or another. He also participates in the implementation of the instruments of rationalized parliamentarianism (inadmissibility procedures, block votes, second deliberations, confidence votes on bills, emergency procedures etc.)