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. The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate on June 13, 1789, had the goal of drafting a constitution as its primary objective. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on August 26, 1789, became the preamble of the constitution adopted on September 3, 1791. The National Assembly wanted to reorganize the social structure and legalize itself, and the constitution was reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI in September 1791. The constitution redefined the organization of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of the powers of the government.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Year of adoption | 3 September 1791 |
| First written constitution in France | Yes |
| Created after | Collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime |
| Precepts | Adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty |
| Triggered by | Tennis Court Oath |
| Drafted by | National Assembly |
| Preamble | Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen |
| Date of adoption of preamble | 26 August 1789 |
| Convening of Constitutional Committee | 14 July 1789 |
| Members of Constitutional Committee | Talleyrand, Abbé Sieyès, Le Chapelier, Gui-Jean-Baptiste Target, Jacques Guillaume Thouret, Jean-Nicolas Démeunier, François Denis Tronchet, Jean-Paul Rabaut Saint-Étienne |
| Controversies | Citizenship and powers of the king |
| Accepted by | King Louis XVI |
| Powers of king | Suspensive veto |
| Redefining | Organisation of the French government, citizenship and limits to the powers of government |
| Separation of powers | Legislative body, executive branch and judiciary |
| Local changes | Abolition of previous feudal geographic divisions |
| Current constitution | Adopted on 4 October 1958 |
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What You'll Learn
The Constitution of 1791 was France's first national constitution
The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate on June 13, 1789, had the goal of writing a constitution. A twelve-member Constitutional Committee was convened on July 14, 1789, to draft the articles of the constitution. The committee included members from the First, Second, and Third Estates. The main controversies at this early stage were 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 a unicameral system. The committee also proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was also defeated, and the king was instead granted a suspensive veto.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on August 26, 1789, became the preamble of the constitution. It offered sweeping statements about rights, liberty, and sovereignty, and served as a fundamental document in the history of human and civil rights. The constitution was reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI in September 1791, and it redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of government power. The National Assembly asserted its legal presence in French government by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections.
The Constitution of 1791 was short-lived, however, as France was declared a republic on September 22, 1792, and a new constitution was needed.
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The US Constitution influenced the French revolutionaries
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 French revolutionaries were influenced by the US Constitution, which had been drafted in 1787 and ratified by the American states the following year, in the wake of the American Revolution.
The US Constitution embraced and codified several Enlightenment ideas, such as Jean-Jacques Rousseau's popular sovereignty and Montesquieu's separation of powers. The French revolutionaries sought to emulate these ideas in their own constitution. One of the basic precepts of the French Revolution was adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, became the preamble of the constitution adopted on 3 September 1791.
The Marquis de Lafayette, for instance, proposed a combination of the American and British systems, introducing a bicameral parliament with the king having suspensive veto power over the legislature, modelled on the authority recently vested in the President of the United States. The French revolutionaries also wanted to redefine the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of government. They abolished many "institutions which were injurious to liberty and equality of rights".
The French Constitution of 1791 established a legislative body, an executive branch consisting of the king and royal ministers, and an independent judiciary. This separation of powers was influenced by the US Constitution, which had also established a system of checks and balances.
While the French and American Revolutions had different desired objectives, with the French focusing on replacing or changing the existing government, and the Americans seeking to break away from Great Britain, both revolutions were driven by a desire to overthrow monarchical and aristocratic power and establish common freedom. The French Revolutionaries were influenced by the American Revolutionaries' belief in a sovereign nation and in equal representation, as well as their efforts to bound the state and preserve freedom.
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The National Assembly drafted the Constitution
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. It was created after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime. One of the basic precepts of the French Revolution was adopting constitutionality and establishing popular sovereignty.
The National Assembly, formed by the Third Estate on 13 June 1789, had the goal of writing a constitution. A twelve-member Constitutional Committee was formed on 14 July 1789 to draft most of the constitution's articles. The committee originally included two members from the First Estate, two from the Second, and four from the Third.
The National Assembly had to make a decision between two options while drafting the Constitution. They could either modify the existing unwritten constitution, which was centred on the three estates of the Estates General, or they could rewrite it completely. The National Assembly wanted to reorganise the social structure and legalise itself.
The Constitutional Committee proposed a bicameral legislature, but this was defeated in favour of a unicameral system. The committee also proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was also defeated, and a suspensive veto was agreed upon instead. 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.
The Constitution of 1791 was reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI in September 1791. It redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of government. 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.
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The King's powers were a major point of debate
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 was the result of long negotiations and was reluctantly accepted by King Louis XVI in September 1791.
The Marquis de Lafayette proposed a combination of the American and British systems, with the king having suspensive veto power over the legislature, modelled on the authority recently vested in the President of the United States. The Constitutional Committee proposed a bicameral legislature, but this motion was defeated in favour of a unicameral system. The Committee then proposed an absolute veto for the king, but this was also defeated in favour of a suspensive veto, which could be overridden by three consecutive legislatures.
The king retained the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers. However, there was debate over whether he should have the power to block laws passed by the legislature. The Monarchiens argued for an absolute veto, while democratic deputies argued for a more limited veto or none at all. A compromise was reached, and the king was granted a suspensive veto, allowing him to deny assent to bills for up to five years, after which the Assembly could enact the bill without his approval.
The National Assembly's belief in a sovereign nation and equal representation was 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.
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The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a preamble
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, formed by the Third Estate, had the goal of drafting a constitution. A twelve-member Constitutional Committee was formed on 14 July 1789 to draft the articles of the constitution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, became the preamble of the constitution adopted on 3 September 1791.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen was a fundamental document of the French Revolution and in the history of human and civil rights. It was influenced by the doctrine of natural rights, stating that the rights of man are universal and valid at all times and in every place. It was also inspired by the American Declaration of Independence in 1776 and the spirit of the Enlightenment. The Declaration was initially drafted by Marquis de Lafayette with assistance from Thomas Jefferson, but the majority of the final draft came from Abbé Sieyès.
The Declaration was voted on between 20 and 26 August 1789. In its preamble and its 17 articles, it sets out the "natural and inalienable" rights, which include freedom, ownership, security, and resistance to oppression. It recognizes equality before the law and the justice system and affirms the principle of separation of powers. The Declaration also states that the law shall provide for punishments that are only as strictly and obviously necessary, and that no one shall suffer punishment except by a law passed and promulgated before the commission of the offense. It also guarantees freedom of thought and the free communication of ideas and opinions.
The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen served as a preamble to the first Constitution of the French Revolution in 1791. It was a starting point and an aspirational vision for the French Revolution, providing a basis for a nation of free individuals protected equally by law. The text of the Declaration has had a lasting impact, inspiring similar texts in several European and Latin American countries and serving as a foundation for later French constitutions.
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Frequently asked questions
1791.
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France. It was formed after the collapse of the absolute monarchy of the Ancien Régime.
The French Constitution of 1791 was influenced by the doctrine of natural right, stating that the rights of man are universal. It also asserted the legislative, executive, and judicial branches of government, with the king and royal ministers making up the executive branch.
The French Constitution of 1791 was drafted by the National Assembly, which was formed by the Third Estate on 13 June 1789. A 12-member Constitutional Committee was convened on 14 July 1789 to draft the articles of the constitution. The Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen, adopted on 26 August 1789, became the preamble to the constitution.
