In France, the fundamental principles recognized by the laws of the Republic (French: principes fondamentaux reconnus par les lois de la République, abbreviated to PFRLR) are certain principles recognized by the Constitutional Council and the Council of State as having constitutional force.
[a] Fundamental principles were mentioned in a budget law of 31 March 1931 (article 91) to characterize freedom of instruction.
[fr][2][3] This was adopted as a compromise by deputies from the Popular Republican Movement (MRP) when writing the Constitution of the Fourth Republic, since the SFIO (socialist) and PCF (communist) deputies had declared themselves hostile to a constitutionalization of this freedom along with the other rights cited in the preamble.
[clarification needed] First, the Council of State identified freedom of association as a fundamental principle, initially basing it on a 1956 appellate decision,[b] and then from 1971 on, the Constitutional Council's Decision #71-44 DC on freedom of association as well.
These essential principles of French law, created by the legislature but not specified in the constitution or raised as a constitutional norm, such as the principle of independence of administrative jurisdiction or freedom of association, were then imposed on the legislature and administration.