Isabella Carter
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first-ever constitution of France. Drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, it was inspired by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems. 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 paid a minimal sum in taxes, effectively creating a property qualification for voting rights. The document also revised the role of the king, amending Louis XVI's title from King of France to King of the French, implying that his power emanated from the people and the law rather than divine right or national sovereignty.
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What You'll Learn
- The French Constitution of 1791 was the nation's first
- It was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly
- The monarchy was retained, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly
- The franchise was restricted to active citizens who paid taxes
- The role of the king was revised, with his title amended from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'
The French Constitution of 1791 was the nation's first
The constitution also revised the role of the king. Louis XVI's title was amended from "King of France" to "King of the French," implying that the king's power derived from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty. The king retained the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers, but the question of whether he could block laws passed by the legislature was a matter of debate and compromise. The constitution lasted less than a year, as it was already outdated by the time it was adopted due to the rapidly evolving events of the revolution and growing political radicalism.
The main ideas behind the French Revolution were liberty, equality, and fraternity, and the constitution abolished the feudal system. The deputies of the Third Estate believed that any reforms to the French state must be outlined in and guaranteed by a written constitution, which would become the fundamental law of the nation, defining and limiting the power of the government and protecting the rights of citizens.
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It was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first-ever constitution of France. It was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, a group of moderates who wanted to improve the monarchy rather than create something entirely new. The National Assembly formed in 1789 when the newly formed National Assembly, comprised of commoners, assembled in a Versailles tennis court and pledged not to disband until France had a working constitution. The deputies of the Third Estate believed that any reforms to the French state must be outlined in and guaranteed by a written constitution.
The committee of the National Assembly that drafted the constitution consisted of 12 members, including two members each from the First and Second Estate and four members from the Third Estate. The constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by an indirect voting system. The franchise was restricted to "active citizens" who paid a minimal sum in taxes, which amounted to about two-thirds of adult men having the right to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. The committee had to wrestle with questions of franchise, debating who would have the right to vote to elect the government. They eventually decided to separate the population into two classes: "active citizens" (those entitled to vote and stand for office) and "passive citizens" (those who were not). "Active citizens" were males over the age of 25 who paid annual taxes equivalent to at least three days' wages.
The constitution also revised the role of the king. It amended Louis XVI's title from "King of France" to "King of the French", implying that the king's power came from the people and the law, rather than divine right or national sovereignty. The king retained the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers. However, the constitution had already been compromised by the king's betrayal, as he had suggested that he would bring about change by making the new constitution unworkable.
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The monarchy was retained, but sovereignty resided in the Legislative Assembly
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first-ever constitution. It was created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution and aimed to establish a constitutional monarchy.
While the constitution retained the monarchy, it amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. This change implied that the king's power derived from the people and the law, rather than from divine right or national sovereignty. The king's spending was reduced to 25 million livres, a significant decrease from his pre-revolution expenditure. Additionally, the king retained the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers. However, there was much debate about whether he should have the power to block laws passed by the legislature. This was resolved with a compromise, and the king was granted an absolute veto, giving him the executive right to block any legislation.
The constitution was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, a group of moderates who sought to improve the form of royal government rather than create something entirely new. It was passed in September 1791, but by then, it had already been compromised by the king's betrayal. Despite taking an oath to uphold the constitution, Louis XVI had expressed his dissatisfaction with it and his intention to make it unworkable. This indicated his lack of faith in the constitution and his desire to maintain the old regime.
The sovereignty of the Legislative Assembly, which was elected through indirect voting, was a key feature of the constitution. The franchise was restricted to "active citizens" who paid a minimum sum in taxes, effectively granting voting rights to about two-thirds of adult men. They could vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. However, the constitution lasted less than a year, as it was overtaken by the rapidly evolving revolution and growing political radicalism.
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The franchise was restricted to active citizens who paid taxes
The Constitution of 1791 was the first of several attempts to create a written constitution for France, inspired by Enlightenment theories and foreign political systems. 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 minimal sum in taxes. This was defined as males over the age of 25 who paid annual taxes equivalent to at least three days' wages. About two-thirds of adult men had the right to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. This was, in effect, a property qualification on voting rights, as those who did not own property and pay taxes were not entitled to vote. While this may seem unfair by today's standards, property restrictions on voting were common in 18th-century Europe. Voting was viewed as a privilege for those who met the property and tax requirements, rather than a natural right for all citizens.
The Constitution of 1791 was passed in September, but it had already been compromised by the king's betrayal. France became a constitutional monarchy, but the monarch, Louis XVI, showed little faith in the constitution. He believed that the constitution had many defects and that changes were necessary. Despite this, he swore to uphold and respect the constitution.
The constitution also amended the king's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French', implying that his power emanated from the people and the law, rather than divine right or national sovereignty. The king retained certain executive powers, including the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers. However, the question of whether he could block laws passed by the legislature remained a subject of debate and compromise.
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The role of the king was revised, with his title amended from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first of several attempts to create a written constitution for France. It was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, a group of moderates who aimed to create a better form of royal government. The constitution retained the monarchy, but the role of the king was revised, with his title amended from "King of France" to "King of the French". This change implied that the king's power derived from the people and the law, rather than from divine right or national sovereignty. The king's spending was reduced to 25 million livres, and he retained the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers. However, the question of whether he could block laws passed by the legislature remained a point of debate and compromise.
The National Assembly's decision to revise the king's role reflected the political climate of the time. The French Revolution had already begun, and the collapse of the monarchy of the Ancient Regime had spurred the need for a written constitution. The deputies of the Third Estate believed that any reforms to the French state must be outlined and guaranteed by such a document, which would define and limit the power of the government while protecting the rights of citizens.
The Constitution of 1791 aimed to strike a balance between royal authority and popular sovereignty. While the king's title change suggested a shift towards popular sovereignty, the constitution also granted him certain executive powers. This included the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers, which gave him some influence over the legislative process.
However, the question of whether the king should have the power to veto laws passed by the legislature remained a contentious issue. The Monarchiens, notably Honore Mirabeau, argued for the king to be granted an absolute veto, allowing him to block any legislation. This proposal reflected the complex dynamics between royal authority and the emerging power of the people during this revolutionary period.
The Constitution of 1791 was short-lived, lasting less than a year. By the time it was adopted, it was already outdated, overtaken by the rapidly evolving events of the French Revolution and the rise of political radicalism. King Louis XVI, despite swearing to uphold the constitution, worked against it, stating his intention to make the constitution "unworkable" to facilitate change. This betrayal, along with the growing political radicalism, ultimately doomed the Constitution of 1791, highlighting the challenges of establishing a stable constitutional monarchy in the midst of revolutionary turmoil.
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