What is time?
According to Aristotle, time is a measure of change. He considered that time is the measure of movement, the change of position of an object in the universe: "time is the number of movement according to before and after". Time is what can be measured between two moments, what is divisible. According to Chemillier-Grendreau, time is "a continuous flow in a linear direction that can be divided (with a degree of arbitrariness) into moments".
The importance of parliamentary time
Time structures parliamentary work, determines the quality of legislation, embodies democracy and is symbolically displayed. Since 1958, its management has been constitutionally regulated in France.
Parliamentary time, a specific form of time
Parliamentary time differs from civil time: structured into legislatures, sessions and sittings, it varies from country to country. In France, a single 9-month session has replaced the two sessions since 1995.
The time frame of the French legislative procedure
Ordinary laws must be examined within six weeks, except in urgent cases. After the shuttle, a joint committee may be set up. Finance bills must be adopted within 70 days, and social security financing bills within 50 days, to ensure that the State functions properly.
The drift of parliamentary time management
Parliament has to deal with a large number of legislative requests and frequent obstruction through amendments. The fast-track procedure and programmed legislative time are used to speed up the adoption of legislation.
Find out more about what is time here (pdf, 119 ko)
