The constitution of the French Fifth Republic allows three types of referendum:
- At the national level, a legislative referendum on the initiative of President of the French Republic on a proposal by the Cabinet or the Parliament (since 1958 );
- Locally, a local referendum initiative (since 2003).
- The Constitutional Law of 23 July 2008 provides a shared initiative referendum (organized on the initiative of one-fifth of the members of Parliament, supported by one-tenth of registered voters).