Malcolm Rivera
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, a group of moderates who aimed to create a better form of royal government rather than something radically new. The constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The franchise was restricted to active citizens who paid a certain amount in taxes, with about two-thirds of adult men having the right to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. The constitution also guaranteed the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and equality before the law.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First written constitution in France | Yes |
| Abolished the feudal system | Yes |
| Limited the power of the king | Yes |
| Established a constitutional monarchy | Yes |
| Guaranteed rights to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and equality before the law | Yes |
| Established a system of indirect voting for the Legislative Assembly | Yes |
| Restricted franchise to "active" citizens who paid taxes | Yes |
| Established a bicameral legislature | No |
| Granted the king an absolute veto | No |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution of France
- The document was created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution
- The Constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly
- The franchise was restricted to active citizens who paid taxes
- The document guaranteed rights to life, freedom of speech, and equality before the law
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution of France
The constitution was the first attempt to establish popular sovereignty and constitutionality in France. It redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of government power. The National Assembly aimed to represent the general will and protect the rights of citizens. It abolished many institutions that were deemed to be "injurious to liberty and equality of rights".
The constitution also established a system of recurring elections and asserted the National Assembly's legal presence in the French government. The Assembly's beliefs in a sovereign nation and equal representation were reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The Assembly was the legislative body, the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, and the judiciary was independent of the other two branches.
The main controversies during the drafting of the constitution centred on the level of power to be granted to the king and the form of the legislature. The Constitutional Committee initially proposed a bicameral legislature and an absolute veto for the king, but these motions were defeated in favour of a unicameral legislature and a suspensive veto that could be overridden. The king's power was limited, and he was placed under the supervision of the government, making France a constitutional monarchy.
The Cabinet Members' Term Limit: How Long Do They Serve?
You may want to see also
The document was created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. It was created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution, following the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The National Assembly was tasked with drafting the constitution, which aimed to redefine the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers.
The process of drafting the constitution began with the Tennis Court Oath, and a twelve-member Constitutional Committee was formed on July 14, 1789, to draft the constitution's articles. The committee included two members each from the First and Second Estates and four members from the Third Estate. The main controversies during the drafting process centred on the level of power to be granted to the king and the structure of the legislature. The Constitutional Committee initially proposed a bicameral legislature and absolute veto power for the king, but these motions were defeated in favour of a unicameral legislature and a suspensive veto that could be overridden.
The National Assembly, as both a legislature and a constitutional convention, had to navigate the complexities of distinguishing between decrees that were constitutional articles and those that were mere statutes. This challenge led to the formation of the Committee of Revisions in September 1790, which included Antoine Barnave, Adrien Duport, and Charles de Lameth. The National Assembly's efforts reflected its belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation, with the legislative body, executive branch led by the king and royal ministers, and an independent judiciary.
The Constitution of 1791 retained the monarchy but effectively transferred sovereignty to the Legislative Assembly, which was elected through indirect voting. This assembly's sovereignty and the distinction between "active" and "passive" citizens, based on tax contributions, proved intolerable to radical deputies like Maximilien Robespierre. The constitution's impact was short-lived, lasting less than a year, but it represented a significant step in France's political evolution during the tumultuous period of the French Revolution.
Leadership Selection: A Democratic Process Explained
You may want to see also
The Constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The constitution was drafted by the National Assembly, which was both a legislature and a constitutional convention. The Assembly's primary objective was to redefine the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of the government's powers.
The constitution retained the monarchy, with King Louis XVI as the figurehead. However, sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The franchise was restricted to "active citizens" who paid a minimum sum in taxes, equivalent to three days' labour. This allowed about two-thirds of adult men to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. The constitution, therefore, did not meet modern standards of egalitarianism, as it distinguished between propertied active citizens and poorer passive citizens. Women were also denied liberties such as education, freedom of speech, and freedom of worship.
The Assembly, as the framers of the constitution, were afraid that if only representatives governed France, it would be ruled by the representatives' self-interest. To balance out the interests of the people, the king was granted a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures. The Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation was reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The National Assembly was the legislative body, the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, and the judiciary was independent of the other two branches.
The constitution lasted less than a year, as the onset of war and the threat of the revolution's collapse led to an increase in the popularity of radical Jacobin and republican conceptions. The constitutional monarchy proved unworkable when the king used his veto powers to protect non-juring priests and refused to raise militias in defence of the revolutionary government. This ultimately led to the 10 August insurrection, ending the monarchy.
DACA and DAPA: Unconstitutional or Legal?
You may want to see also
Explore related products
The franchise was restricted to active citizens who paid taxes
The Constitution of 1791 was France's first attempt at a written national constitution. It was drafted by the National Assembly, a group of moderates who aimed to create a better form of royal government. The constitution retained the monarchy, but the king was now under the supervision of the government, making France a constitutional monarchy.
The franchise was restricted to "active citizens" who paid a minimal sum in taxes. This distinction between active and passive citizens was made based on the payment of direct taxes equal to three days' labour. Active citizens, who were over the age of 25, had political rights, while passive citizens only had civil rights. About two-thirds of adult men had the right to vote for electors and to choose certain local officials directly.
The National Assembly, which was the legislative body, believed in a sovereign nation and equal representation. They asserted their legal presence in the French government by establishing their permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections. The Assembly's belief in equal representation is reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, while the judiciary was independent of the other two branches.
The Constitution of 1791 was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was influenced by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems, aiming to redefine the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers.
Exploring the Core Principles of the Constitution
You may want to see also
The document guaranteed rights to life, freedom of speech, and equality before the law
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was the culmination of a long process that began with the Tennis Court Oath, after which the National Assembly set out to draft a constitution as its primary objective.
The Constitution of 1791 redefined the organization of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental powers. It abolished many institutions that were deemed injurious to liberty and equality of rights. The Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and in equal representation can be seen in the constitutional separation of powers. The National Assembly was the legislative body, the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, and the judiciary was independent of the other two branches.
The main controversies during the drafting of the constitution surrounded the level of power to be granted to the king and the form the legislature would take. The Constitutional Committee proposed a bicameral legislature, but this was defeated in favor of a single house. The next day, they proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was also defeated in favor of a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures.
In the end, a distinction was made between active citizens (over the age of 25, paying direct taxes equal to three days' labor) who had political rights, and passive citizens, who had only civil rights. This conclusion was intolerable to radical deputies such as Maximilien Robespierre, who could never be reconciled to the Constitution of 1791.
The World Health Organization: Foundation and Purpose
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
No, the Constitution of 1791 did not make France a democracy. It retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The franchise was restricted to "active citizens" who paid a minimal sum in taxes, about two-thirds of adult men.
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution of France. It abolished the feudal system and limited the power of the king, making France a constitutional monarchy. It also guaranteed the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and equality before the law.
The main controversies early on were about the level of power to be granted to the king and the form the legislature would take. The Constitutional Committee proposed a bicameral legislature, but this was defeated in favour of one house. The next day, they proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was also defeated in favour of a suspensive veto.
King Louis XVI reluctantly accepted the constitution in September 1791, but he did not support it. He is quoted as saying, "I am far from regarding the constitution as a masterpiece. I think it has a great many defects."
