al provision, but simply upon custom. The right which the
President possesses, with the consent of the Senate, to dissolve the
Chamber of Deputies before the expiration of its term, thereby
precipitating a general election, may also be made the means of
exercising considerable influence upon legislative processes and
achievements.

[Footnote 465: Art. 3. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
I., 286.]

*335. Powers: Executive and Judicial.*--As the head of the national
administration, the President appoints to all civil and military
offices connected with the central government. His appointments do not
require ratification by the Senate, or by any other body. He may even
create, by decree, new offices. And his power of removal from office,
save in certain cases, is absolutely without restriction. Appointments
and removals, however, are in practice made through the Ministry, and
the President has no patronage at his immediate disposal other than
that of the posts in his own household. In respect to foreign affairs
the President's powers are more substantial. Like the American
President, he represents his country in the sending and receiving of
ambassadors, ministers, envoys, and consuls, and in the negotiation
and conclusion of treaties. Treaties affecting peace, commerce,
territorial possessions, finances, or the status of Frenchmen in
foreign countries, require the ratification of the chambers; others
call for no such action, and even a foreign alliance may be (p. 311)
concluded by the Executive working independently. On the military
side, the President is commander-in-chief of the armed forces of the
nation, military and naval. He may not declare war without the consent
of the chambers; but through the conduct of foreign affairs he may at
any time, very much as may the President of the United States, create
a situation by which war will be rendered inevitable. Finally, the
President is vested with the powers of pardon and reprieve, although
amnesty may be granted only by law.[466]

[Footnote 466: Dupriez, Les Ministres, II.,
358-372; J. Nadal, Attributions du president de la
republique en France et aux Etats-Unis (Toulouse,
1909). For a brief American discussion of the same
subject see M. Smith, The French Presidency and the
American, in _Review of Reviews_, Feb., 1906