Omar Bennett
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 redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of the government. The constitution was drafted by a committee of the National Assembly, a group of moderates who aimed to create a better form of royal government. It abolished the feudal system and limited the power of the king, with sovereignty now effectively residing in the Legislative Assembly. The constitution also guaranteed the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, and equality before the law. However, it was controversial, with debates around the level of power granted to the king and the form of the legislature. The constitution lasted less than a year, as the onset of war and the threat of revolution's collapse led to increasing political radicalism.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| First written constitution in France | Yes |
| Abolished the feudal system | Yes |
| Established a constitutional monarchy | Yes |
| Redefined the organisation of the French government | Yes |
| Established the Legislative Assembly as the sovereign body | Yes |
| Restricted voting rights to "active citizens" over the age of 25 who paid a minimum sum in taxes | Yes |
| Guaranteed rights such as the right to life, freedom of speech, and equality before the law | Yes |
| Amended the king's title from "King of France" to "King of the French" | Yes |
| Reduced the king's spending by around 20 million livres | Yes |
| Established the independence of the judiciary | Yes |
| Asserted the permanence of the National Assembly in the Constitution | Yes |
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What You'll Learn
France became a constitutional monarchy
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution of 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. The constitution retained the monarchy, but sovereignty now resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting.
The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. This implied that the king's power derived from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty. The king's powers were limited, and he was now under the supervision of the government. The judiciary was independent of the legislative and executive branches, with the National Assembly serving as the legislative body and the king and royal ministers forming the executive branch.
The franchise was restricted to 'active citizens' who paid a minimum sum in taxes, with about two-thirds of adult men having the right to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. The constitution made a distinction between ''active citizens' (those with political rights) and 'passive citizens' (those with only civil rights). 'Active citizens' were males over the age of 25 who paid taxes equivalent to at least three days' wages, effectively making voting a privilege for those who owned property.
The Constitution of 1791 was passed in September 1791, but it lasted less than a year. By the time it was adopted, it was already outdated due to the ongoing revolution and growing political radicalism. The constitutional monarchy proved unworkable, and France was declared a republic on 22 September 1792, requiring a new constitution.
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The king's powers were limited
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. It redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of the government.
The constitution retained the monarchy, but the king's powers were now limited. The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. This implied that the king's power derived from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty. The king was granted a civil list (public funding) of 25 million livres, a reduction of around 20 million livres on his spending before the revolution.
In terms of executive power, the king retained the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers. The constitution also granted the king a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures. However, when the king used his veto powers to protect non-juring priests and refused to raise militias in defence of the revolutionary government, the constitutional monarchy proved unworkable and was effectively ended by the 10 August insurrection.
The National Assembly, which was the legislative body, asserted its legal presence in the French government by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections. The judiciary was independent of the legislative and executive branches.
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The feudal system was abolished
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. It was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The document 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 sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting.
The feudal system, a type of social and political system in which the landowner provided land to tenants in exchange for their loyalty and services, was abolished. This was a significant change, as it limited the power of the king by establishing a judiciary, legislature, and executive. The king became subject to the supervision of the government, and France became a constitutional monarchy.
The constitution made a clear distinction between "active citizens" and "passive citizens". Active citizens, males over the age of 25 who paid annual taxes equivalent to at least three days' wages, had political rights and could vote and stand for office. On the other hand, passive citizens only had civil rights and were not entitled to vote or hold office.
The constitution also 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. While the king retained the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers, his spending was reduced by around 20 million livres.
Overall, the Constitution of 1791 had a significant impact on France by abolishing the feudal system, redefining citizenship, and limiting the power of the monarchy.
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Active and passive citizens were defined
The Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution of 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. 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 minimum sum in taxes, with about two-thirds of adult men having the right to vote for electors and choose certain local officials directly. Active citizens were defined as males over the age of 25 who paid annual taxes equivalent to at least three days' wages. This was essentially a property qualification for voting rights. In the modern context, where universal suffrage is the norm, this may seem unfair. However, property restrictions on voting were quite common in 18th-century Europe. Voting was considered a privilege for those who owned property and paid taxes, not a natural right for all.
Those who did not meet the criteria for active citizens were classified as "passive citizens," who had only civil rights but no political rights. This distinction proved intolerable to radical deputies like Maximilien Robespierre, and they could never reconcile with the Constitution of 1791.
The Constitution of 1791 was passed in September 1791 and reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI, who had tried to flee France with his family the previous month. The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from "King of France" to "King of the French," implying that his power came from the people and the law, not divine right or national sovereignty. While the king retained certain executive powers, such as the right to form a cabinet and appoint ministers, his spending was reduced by around 20 million livres compared to before the revolution.
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The right to life, freedom of speech and opinion were guaranteed
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first written constitution, created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. The constitution was accepted by King Louis XVI in September 1791, and it redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of governmental power.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, served as the preamble to the constitution. This declaration set out the "natural and inalienable" rights of freedom, ownership, security, and resistance to oppression. It also recognised equality before the law and the justice system, and affirmed the principle of separation of powers.
The right to life, freedom of speech, and freedom of opinion were guaranteed by the French Constitution of 1791. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen states that the free communication of ideas and opinions is one of the most precious rights of man. It asserts that any citizen may speak, write, and publish freely, as long as it does not interfere with established law and order or constitute abuse.
The right to life was also protected, with the declaration stating that the right to property is inviolable and sacred. No one could be deprived of their property unless public necessity legally required it, and just and prior compensation had been paid. These rights were considered natural, unalienable, and sacred, and it was believed that a reminder of these rights would help maintain the constitution and the happiness of all.
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Frequently asked questions
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 Constitution of 1791 redefined the organisation of the French government, limiting the power of the king and establishing a constitutional monarchy. The king's title was changed from 'King of France' to 'King of the French', implying that his power came from the people and law, not divine right.
The Constitution of 1791 guaranteed the right to life, freedom of speech, freedom of opinion, equality before the law, and equality of citizens. It also established a system of indirect voting, with sovereignty residing in the Legislative Assembly.
