the Government or the Parliament, submit to a referendum some government bills. A referendum may be held upon the initiative of one fifth of the Members of Parliament, supported by one tenth of the registered voters. The Constitution explicitly states that a referendum can be called only on a Government Bill "which deals with the organization of the public authorities, or with reforms relating to the economic or social policy of the Nation, and to the public services contributing thereto, or which provides for authorization to ratify a treaty which, although not contrary to the Constitution, would affect the functioning of the institutions" (Article 11 of the Constitution). The second procedure for holding a referendum has several limitations: it cannot be used to repeal laws which are in effect for less than a year, and if the proposal fails on a referendum, it cannot be re-submitted to a referendum for next two years. The second procedure for holding a referendum was added to the Constitution in 2008, and it still has not come into effect (as of 2013). It will come into effect when appropriate legislation is implemented by the Parliament. The Constitution of France can be amended in two ways: on a referendum, or by three-fifths super-majority of both houses of the Parliament. Most constitutional revisions went through the super-majority of the Parliament in Congress. Ratification of treaties of accession of states to the EU must go through the same procedure as amendment of Constitution of France. All of ratifications went through the super-majority of the Parliament, except the first EU enlargement in 1973. There were nine referendums in the Fifth Republic: two on Algeria (1961, 1962) two on amending the Constitution (1969, 2000) two on EU treaties (1992, 2005) French presidential election referendum of 1962, which also amended the constitution one on EU enlargement (1972) one on New Caledonia (1988) See also Voting system References External links Official results from the Ministry of the Interior thematic files from the Constitutional Council, including election results Adam Carr's Election Archive Laurent de Boissieu's Election Archive Will 2010 regional elections lead to political shake-up? gijon Internationale in English NSD: European Election Database – France publishes regional level election data; allows for comparisons of election results, 1993–2007