Do the Opinions Expressed by the Conseil D'Etat in its Capacity as Legal Adviser to the Government Influence Policy?

Abstract

My title for this article reflects a very proper question for a foreign audience which has become more familiar than in the past with the dual (consultative and judicial) role of the French Conseil d'etat. For many years, interest in Britain focused on the judicial function of the Conseil. More recently, attention has shifted to the activities of the “sections administratives”, which involve the screening and the drafting of all the proposed legislation and the essential part of subordinate regulations prepared by government. I have the feeling this interest is probably fuelled by the recent constitutional changes in the United Kingdom, and the need to prevent legal difficulties cropping up between different and new political bodies.