Eleanor Finch
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first attempt at a written national constitution, marking a significant shift from the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime to a constitutional monarchy. This constitution had several key outcomes: it redefined the organisation of the French government and the limits of its powers, established a system of recurring elections, and introduced a separation of powers between the legislative, executive, and judiciary branches. The constitution also addressed controversial questions of citizenship and voting rights, distinguishing between active citizens with full political rights and passive citizens with limited rights. Finally, it amended King Louis XVI's title to King of the French, implying that his power derived from the people and law rather than divine right. These outcomes had a lasting impact on the political landscape of France, setting the stage for further developments in the years to come.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First written constitution in France | Established popular sovereignty |
| Redefined the French government | Established a constitutional monarchy |
| Redefined citizenship | Established "active citizens" with political rights and "passive citizens" with civil rights |
| Established a legislative body | The National Assembly |
| Established an executive branch | The king and royal ministers |
| Established an independent judiciary | Independent of the legislative and executive branches |
| Abolished feudal geographic divisions | Divided the territory of the French state into several administrative units |
| Established a system for recurring elections | N/A |
| Established a unicameral (one house) legislature | N/A |
| Restricted voting rights to "active citizens" | "Active citizens" were male property owners over the age of 25 |
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What You'll Learn
- The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first written constitution
- It redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and limits to the powers of government
- The constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly
- The king's power was amended to be granted by the people and the law, not by divine right
- The National Assembly asserted its legal presence in the French government by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first written constitution
The French Constitution of 1791, formally known as the Constitution française du 3 septembre 1791, was the country's first written constitution. It was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The constitution was drafted by the National Constituent Assembly, a group of moderates who aimed to create an improved version of royal governance rather than a completely new system. The Assembly's primary objective was to redefine the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental authority.
The constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting. The franchise was restricted to "active citizens" who met specific criteria, such as paying a minimum amount of taxes. This distinction between active and passive citizens was a significant controversy, as it granted political rights to those over 25 who paid direct taxes equivalent to three days' labor, while passive citizens had only civil rights.
The National Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation was reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The Assembly served as the legislative body, while the king and royal ministers formed the executive branch, and the judiciary maintained its independence from the other two branches. The constitution also amended Louis XVI's title from "King of France" to "King of the French," implying that his power derived from the people and the law rather than divine right or national sovereignty.
The French Constitution of 1791 was a significant step towards constitutionality and popular sovereignty in France. It was the first of several attempts to establish a written constitution and was inspired by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems. However, by the time it was adopted, the constitution was already outdated due to the rapidly evolving events of the French Revolution and the rise of political radicalism.
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It redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and limits to the powers of government
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The National Assembly, which was both a legislature and a constitutional convention, was tasked with drafting the constitution. One of the main objectives of the French Revolution was to adopt constitutionality and establish popular sovereignty.
The National Assembly wanted to reorganise the social structure and legalise itself. It abolished the tricameral structure of the Estates General of 1789, which was composed of three estates. The Assembly also wanted to redefine the French state, abolishing feudalism and establishing equal rights for all subjects of the French Crown.
The Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation was reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The National Assembly formed the legislative body, while the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch. The judiciary was kept independent of the other two branches. The Assembly also established its permanence in the Constitution and created a system of recurring elections.
The issue of citizenship was a highly controversial topic. The final distinction was made between active citizens (over 25 years old, paying direct taxes equal to three days' labour) with political rights, and passive citizens with only civil rights. This distinction was intolerable to radical deputies like Maximilien Robespierre, who wanted equal rights for all. The constitution also made a distinction between propertied active citizens and poorer passive citizens, with women lacking liberties such as education and freedom of speech.
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The constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first attempt at a written national constitution. It was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime, marking a significant shift in the organization of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of its powers.
The constitution retained the monarchy, with King Louis XVI as the "King of the French", a title change that implied that his power emanated from the people and the law, rather than divine right or national sovereignty. However, the sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected through a system of indirect voting. This assembly was made up of active citizens, males over the age of 25 who paid a minimum amount of taxes, equivalent to at least three days' wages. This distinction between "active" and "passive" citizens was a controversial aspect of the constitution, as it restricted voting rights and political participation for a significant portion of the population.
The constitution granted the king certain powers, including the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers. He also retained a suspensive veto, which allowed him to balance the interests of the people. However, the National Assembly, as the legislative body, held significant influence, and the judiciary branch was independent of both the legislative and executive branches. This separation of powers was a key feature of the new constitution, aiming to protect the rights of citizens and limit the power of the government.
The constitution was reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI, and it faced challenges from the onset, with the king's flight to Varennes in June 1791 rendering the constitutional monarchy unworkable. The constitution was short-lived, as France was declared a republic in September 1792, just a year after the adoption of the 1791 Constitution.
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The king's power was amended to be granted by the people and the law, not by divine right
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first attempt at a written national constitution. Drafted by the National Constituent Assembly, it was passed in September 1791, marking a significant shift in the perception of the king's power.
The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. This change in title held a deeper implication—it signalled that the king's power was no longer derived from divine right or national sovereignty but from the people and the law. This amendment was a direct challenge to the long-held belief in the divine right of kings, a cornerstone of absolute monarchy.
The revised role of the king in the constitution reflected this shift in power dynamics. While the king retained certain executive powers, such as the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers, his authority was now subject to checks and balances. The constitution granted the king a suspensive veto power, which allowed him to temporarily block legislation but could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures. Additionally, the king's civil list was significantly reduced, reflecting a decrease in his spending power compared to before the revolution.
The National Assembly, as the legislative body, and the king, along with his royal ministers, as the executive branch, represented a separation of powers. This division aimed to balance the interests of the people and the monarch. The judiciary was also established as an independent branch, further limiting the king's influence and ensuring a system of checks and balances within the government.
The constitution's recognition of the king as "King of the French" symbolised a move towards popular sovereignty, where sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly. This assembly was elected by a system of indirect voting, with voting rights restricted to "active citizens" who met specific property qualifications and paid a minimum amount of taxation. While this system excluded a significant portion of the population, it represented a step towards a more democratic distribution of power, with the king's authority now derived from the people rather than divine right.
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The National Assembly asserted its legal presence in the French government by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first attempt at a written national constitution, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It was drafted by the National Assembly, which was formed by the Third Estate in 1789. The National Assembly's primary objective was to draft a constitution to outline and guarantee the fundamental laws of the nation, defining and limiting the power of the government and protecting the rights of citizens.
The National Assembly's legal presence in the French government was asserted through the following actions:
- Establishing its permanence in the Constitution: The National Assembly wanted to legalize and reorganize the social structure. By establishing its permanence in the Constitution, the National Assembly ensured its role as the legislative body in the new government structure.
- Forming a system for recurring elections: The National Assembly introduced a system of recurring elections, allowing for representative participation in the government. This system granted voting rights to "active citizens," who were males over the age of 25 and paid a minimum amount of taxation.
- Separating powers: The National Assembly believed in a sovereign nation and equal representation, which was reflected in the constitutional separation of powers. The Assembly formed the legislative branch, while the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, and the judiciary remained independent of the other two branches.
- Abolishing feudal divisions: On a local level, the National Assembly formally abolished the previous feudal geographic divisions and divided the territory of the French state into several administrative units, marking a shift towards centralism.
The National Assembly's actions in establishing its legal presence in the French government through the Constitution of 1791 had a significant impact on the country's political structure and set the foundation for recurring elections and the representation of citizens.
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