Médaille de l'Assemblée nationale

The National Assembly Medal (Médaille de l'Assemblée nationale) is a medal presented to each French deputy at the beginning of a parliamentary term. It is a tradition dating back to the Revolution. Originally, this medal served as the identity document of the representatives of the people. For this purpose, the medal was engraved in tin and presented to the guard posts at the Gates of Paris and to the police services, enabling guards and city sergeants to recognize a parliamentarian’s identity. Later, its function as an identity document faded, giving way to other signs of office: the tricolor identity card, the badge and the sash.

Today, the parliamentary-term medal is made of silver and engraved by the Paris Mint in the name of each deputy. At the beginning of each parliamentary term, the design for the engraving is chosen by the Bureau of the National Assembly following a competition open to artists.

Some deputies give individuals they wish to honor a similar medal issued by the National Assembly’s shop; this is a gift and not an official decoration.