What are the French voting about?

Like many non-Europeans, you may be fuzzily aware that some important voting is happening on the Continent, but you haven't a clue what it's all about. Having heard, perhaps, that this voting could transform geopolitics as we know it, you may have tried to understand but gotten bogged down in the face of the document under debate: a 448-article constitution that is about as exciting as a telephone book. (Many Europeans find themselves in the same situation.) You may have read that the European Union is facing the most critical days in its history, or that May 29 will be a turning point, but you're wondering if this has any implications for your vacation in Tuscany.

Herewith, then, is your European Constitution cheat sheet. The French public will vote to accept or reject this constitution in a national referendum on Sunday, May 29, and the Dutch will do the same on Wednesday, June 1. Polls in both countries currently favor rejection.

What does the constitution do?

Some would say not much. According to Charles Kupchan, director of Europe Studies for the Council on Foreign Relations, 70 percent to 80 percent of the new document simply repeats rules laid out in previous treaties.

The European Union was built on treaties, beginning with a 1951 agreement among six nations to cooperate on coal and steel production. Now it's a club of 25 countries that have torn down internal trade barriers and cooperate, to some extent, on everything from defense policy to jurisprudence.

The new provisions in the constitution include changes to voting rules for the European Council. (Each member state has a seat on the council, which, together with the European Parliament, decides on legislation.) A smaller majority would be needed for most council decisions, and fewer areas would require a unanimous vote.

The constitution also calls for more defense cooperation and the creation of an EU diplomatic corps and foreign minister. It would thus finally provide an answer to a question usually attributed to Henry Kissinger: "Who do I call when I want to talk to Europe?"

Did France have to have a referendum?

No. Some countries are taking a parliamentary vote. French President Jacques Chirac, who is staunchly pro-integration, promised a plebiscite anyway.

If all 25 countries have to ratify the constitution, why is France's vote getting so much attention?