General principles of French law explained
In French law, judges cannot create legal norms, because of the principle known as "French: la prohibition des arrêts de règlement" of Article 5 of the French civil code: "Judges are forbidden from pronouncing in a generally dispositive and regulatory fashion on the matters submitted to them." They can only put into evidence and interpret existing norms. This general principle underlies the state of existing law, which is merely uncovered by the judge.
The general principles of law, French: principes généraux du droit, PGD are rules of universal scope which:
- apply even when unwritten;
- are uncovered through case law;
- are not created but "discovered" by the judge, based on the state of law and society at a given point in time.[1]
The Court of Justice of the European Union also recognizes general principles of law in European Union law. In international law, "general principles of law recognized by civilized nations" are considered a source of law under Article 38.1 (c) of the statute governing the International Court of Justice.[2]
Traditionally, the general principles of law have a very minor role in civil law, which is essentially codified, and a much larger role in administrative law, which is largely based on case law,[3] since for a very long time, very few texts of general scope covered all, or even most, administrative activities.
These general principles, and particularly their judicial interpretation, have been debated in legal theory. The expression "general principles of law" was consecrated after the Liberation of France by an arrêt[4] about the rights of defendants. (French: principe des droits de la défense)[5] The Tribunal des conflits citedthis principle, in its decision of 8 February 1873, titled Dugave et Bransiet.[6]
Fundamental rules on the rights of citizens
Principles based on liberty
- Freedom of commerce and of industry: [7] [8] [9]
Principles based on equality
Extradition law
The Conseil d'État has brought out a number of principles on this topic:
- No extraditions of political refugees[22] [23]
- No extraditions for political reasons[24] Here the Conseil d'Etat is not recognizing a general principle of law but one of the fundamental principles recognized by the laws of the Republic
- No extradition that would have grave consequences, notably due to age and health[25]
- No extraditions if the requesting state's legal system does not recognize fundamental rights and freedoms[26] [27]
- No extraditions if the requesting state can impose a death penalty and has not guaranteed that it will refrain from doing so[28]
Rules of judicial administrative procedure
Rules of unlitigated administrative procedure
- Administrative rules must be published.[37] [38]
- Administrative actions must not be retroactive. ([39])
Notes and References
- https://www.dalloz.fr/documentation/Document?id=DZ%2FOASIS%2F001661#:~:text=Les%20principes%20g%C3%A9n%C3%A9raux%20du%20droit,administration%20dans%20ses%20diverses%20activit%C3%A9s Fiches d'orientation: Principe général du droit - Mai 2022
- Web site: Statute of the International Court of Justice, June 26, 1945 . Yale Law School . The Avalon Project.
- Web site: 598 . French Administrative Law . James W. Garner . Yale Law Journal . 33 . 6 . April 1924. 10.2307/787920 .
- CE, Ass, 26 October 1945, Aramu et autres
- Web site: 2017-11-23. Principes généraux du droit . www.lexinter.net.
- Fiche 17. Les principes généraux du droit . Guillaume . Protière . Cairn.info . Fiches de Droit administratif . 2018. 105-109.
- Conseil d'Etat, Ass. (Conseil d'État en banc), 22 June 1951,
- Conseil d'Etat Sect. (Conseil d'Etat en, 13 May 1994, Président de l'Assemblée territoriale de la Polynésie Française.
- See also
- [Conseil d'État (France)|Conseil d'État]
- Conseil d'Etat, Ass., 25 June 1948, Société du Journal l'Aurore, Leb. p. 289, GAJA number 62
- Conseil d'Etat, 1974, Denoyez et Chorques
- Revue générale du droit, 'Conseil d’Etat, Assemblée, 7 février 1958, Syndicat des propriétaires de forêts de chênes-lièges d’Algérie et autres, requête numéro 39269, rec. p. 74, ' : Revue générale du droit on line, 1958, numéro 17174 (www.revuegeneraledudroit.eu/?p=17174)
- Conseil d'Etat 22 February 1974, Association des maires de France: Dalloz 1974 p. 520
- Conseil d'Etat 7 February 1958 [Syndicat des propriétaires de chêne-liège d'Algérie'': AJDA 1958 II p. 130</ref><ref>[https://www.revuegeneraledudroit.eu/blog/decisions/conseil-detat-assemblee-7-fevrier-1958-syndicat-des-proprietaires-de-forets-de-chenes-lieges-dalgerie-et-autres-requete-numero-39269-rec-p-74 *Conseil d’Etat, Assemblée, 7 February 1958], Syndicat des propriétaires de forêts de chênes-lièges d’Algérie et autres, requête numéro 39269, rec. p. 74
- Revue générale du droit, 'Conseil d’Etat, Assemblée, 7 February 1958, Syndicat des propriétaires de forêts de chênes-lièges d’Algérie et autres], requête numéro 39269, rec. p. 74
- Revue générale du droit on line, 1958, numéro 17174 (www.revuegeneraledudroit.eu/?p=17174
- CE, Ass, 28 May 1954, Barel et autres, Rec. (Recueil des arrêts du Conseil d'Etat p. 308 concl. Letourneur, GAJA (grands arrêts de la jurisprudence administrative) n° 77
- Conseil d'Etat, 9 November 1966, Commune de Clohars-Carnoët
- Conseil d'État, Ass., 21 July 1972},
- https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/ceta/id/CETATEXT000007631724f
- Conseil Constitutionnel:
- Conseil constitutionnel, décision n° 75-56 DC of 23 July 1975
- CE Ass. 1 April 1988, Bereciartua-Echarri
- https://www.conseil-etat.fr/publications-colloques/discours-et-interventions/le-conseil-d-etat-et-la-protection-des-droits-fondamentaux Le Conseil d’Etat et la protection des droits fondamentaux
- CE Ass., 3 July 1996 Koné
- CE 13 October 2000 Kozirev
- CE, 26 September 1984 | Lujambio Galdeano
- Web site: ÉLOIGNEMENT DES ÉTRANGERS TERRORISTES ET ARTICLE 3 DE LA CONVENTION EUROPÉENNE DES DROITS DE L’HOMME: "Lutte contre le terrorisme et droits fondamentaux". Hélène . Hurpy. Mustapha . Afroukh. RDLF. 2015 . 11.
- CE, 27 February 1987, Fidan
- CE, Sect., 5 May 1944, Dame Veuve Trompier Gravier, Leb. p. 133, GAJA n° 58
- Ass., 26 October 1945, Aramu, Leb. p. 21
- CE, Ass., 19 October 1962, Canal, Robin et Godot, Leb. p. 552, GAJA n° 88
- Conseil Constitutionnel, Dec. number 76-70 DC of 2 December 1976, Rec. p. 39
- https://www.legifrance.gouv.fr/cons/id/CONSTEXT000017665684 CC, déc. number 77
- https://www.conseil-constitutionnel.fr/les-decisions/decision-n-77-83-dc-du-20-juillet-1977-saisine-par-60-deputes 83 DC of 20 July 1977
- Conseil d'Etat, Ass, 17 February 1950, Ministre de l'agriculture c. Dame Lamotte, Leb. p. 110, GAJA number 67
- CE, Ass., 4 October 1974, Dame David, Leb. p. 464 concl. M. Gentot
- Conseil d'etat, 12 December 2003, Syndicat des commissaires et hauts fonctionnaires de la police nationale
- Book: 2017-09-17. Conseil d'Etat, 5th and 7th sub-sections combined, 12 December 2003, 243430, published in the Lebon collection .
- Conseil d'Etat, Ass, 25 June 1948, Société du Journal l'Aurore, Leb. p. 289, GAJA number 64