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. The National Constituent Assembly drafted the constitution, which was passed in September 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of the government, and it abolished many institutions considered injurious to liberty and equality of rights. While Louis XVI reluctantly accepted the constitution, he did so only after very long negotiations, and he later suggested that he would bring about change by making the new constitution unworkable.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of acceptance | 14-25 September 1791 |
| Type of monarchy | Constitutional monarchy |
| King's title | "King of the French" |
| King's power | Reduced, derived from the people and the law |
| Voting rights | Extended to around 4.3 million Frenchmen |
| Legislative body | National Assembly |
| Executive branch | King and royal ministers |
| Judiciary | Independent |
| Local divisions | Previous feudal geographic divisions were abolished |
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What You'll Learn
- The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France
- The constitution was passed in September 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy
- The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and the limits of the government's power
- The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'
- The constitution granted the king a suspensive veto to balance out the interests of the people
The French Constitution of 1791 was the first written constitution in France
The National Assembly, as the framers of the constitution, had to navigate a delicate balance of powers. They wanted to ensure that the interests of the people were represented, so they allowed the king a suspensive veto to counterbalance the potential self-interest of representatives. This veto power, however, proved controversial, as it enabled the king to paralyse the Assembly and hinder the will of the nation. This contradiction within the constitution would ultimately contribute to its demise.
The constitution also introduced a distinction between "active citizens" and "passive citizens." Active citizens, who were males over the age of 25 and paid a certain amount of taxes, had political rights and could vote and stand for office. On the other hand, passive citizens only possessed civil rights and did not have the same political privileges. This distinction was a source of contention, as it fell short of the egalitarian ideals of the French Revolution.
The Constitution of 1791 was a product of lengthy negotiations and controversies surrounding the king's power and the form of the legislature. Despite its shortcomings and the reluctant acceptance by King Louis XVI, it was a groundbreaking document that abolished the nobility, declared all men equal before the law, and established a constitutional monarchy in France.
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The constitution was passed in September 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy
The French Constitution of 1791 was passed on 3 September 1791, marking a significant shift from absolute monarchy to constitutional monarchy in France. This transition occurred during a tumultuous period in French history, known as the French Revolution (1789-1799), which witnessed the overthrow of the Bourbon monarchy and profound transformations in the country's political landscape.
The National Constituent Assembly played a pivotal role in drafting and adopting the French Constitution of 1791. This assembly emerged in the aftermath of the Tennis Court Oath, a pivotal event in the French Revolution. The assembly's primary objective was to create a constitution that embodied the principles of constitutionality and popular sovereignty.
The constitution underwent lengthy negotiations and faced controversies regarding the extent of the king's powers and the structure of the legislature. One faction, the Monarchiens or "English faction," advocated for a bicameral legislature and strong executive powers for the king, including an absolute veto. Meanwhile, another group, led by Sieyès and Talleyrand, favoured a unicameral legislature and significantly limited monarchy power.
Despite his reluctance, King Louis XVI was compelled to accept the constitution in September 1791. This acceptance followed his unsuccessful attempt to flee France in June 1791, known as the Flight to Varennes. The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from “King of France" to "King of the French," signifying that his authority derived from the people and law rather than divine right. While the king retained certain powers, such as the right to select and appoint ministers and a suspensive veto, the balance of power had shifted towards the National Assembly, which represented the interests of the general will and sought to protect liberty and equality of rights.
The constitutional monarchy established by the French Constitution of 1791 was short-lived. Despite Louis XVI's acceptance, his actions indicated a lack of faith in the constitution, and the monarchy was suspended on 11 August 1792 following the Storming of the Tuileries Palace. The National Convention, elected under universal male suffrage, officially abolished the monarchy on 21 September 1792, bringing an end to the Bourbon monarchy and ushering in the French First Republic.
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The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship and the limits of the government's power
The French Constitution of 1791 was the country's first attempt at a national constitution and was passed in September 1791. It was drafted by the National Assembly, which aimed to represent the interests of the general will. The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits of the government's power.
The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. This implied that the king's power emanated from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty. The king retained the right to form a cabinet and select and appoint ministers, but his spending was reduced by around 20 million livres.
The constitution separated 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 defined as those over the age of 25 who paid direct taxes equal to three days' labour. This distinction was a significant redefinition of citizenship in France, as it granted political rights to a larger portion of the population.
The National Assembly also asserted its legal presence in the French government by establishing its permanence in the Constitution and forming a system for recurring elections. 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 branch, the king and royal ministers made up the executive branch, and the judiciary was independent of the other two branches.
On a local level, the previous feudal geographic divisions were abolished, and the territory of the French state was reorganised. The constitution also abolished many "institutions which were injurious to liberty and equality of rights", marking a significant shift in the organisation of government power.
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The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'
The French Constitution of 1791 was passed in September, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy. The National Constituent Assembly forced King Louis XVI to accept the French Constitution, and he took an oath to uphold and respect it. The constitution 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 constitution also reduced the king's civil list (public funding) from 45 million livres to 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 to select and appoint ministers. He was also granted suspensive veto power.
Louis XVI's acceptance of the constitution was reluctant, and he saw it as a means to an end. In a conversation with the conservative politician Bertrand de Molleville, Louis XVI suggested that he would bring about change by making the new constitution unworkable. He stated:
> "I am far from regarding the constitution as a masterpiece. I think it has a great many defects. If I had been permitted to make some observations, some useful changes might have been made. But it is too late for that now. I have sworn to maintain the constitution, wars and all, and I am determined to keep my oath. It is my opinion that that execution of the constitution is the best way of making the people see the changes that are necessary."
Louis XVI's unsuccessful flight to Varennes in June 1791, four months before the constitutional monarchy was declared, rendered the Constitution of 1791 unworkable and fuelled a spike in Republican sentiment in Paris. The king's actions showed a lack of faith in the constitution, and he was perceived as a symbol of the tyranny of the ancien régime.
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The constitution granted the king a suspensive veto to balance out the interests of the people
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 passed in September 1791, turning the absolute monarchy into a constitutional monarchy.
The constitution redefined the organisation of the French government, citizenship, and the limits to the powers of government. It abolished many institutions that were considered injurious to liberty and equality of rights. The constitution amended Louis XVI's title from 'King of France' to 'King of the French'. This implied that the king's power emanated from the people and the law, not from divine right or national sovereignty.
Despite the constitution, Louis XVI did not have faith in it and aimed to make it unworkable. He believed that executing the constitution was the best way to make the people see the changes that were necessary. Eventually, the king's use of his veto powers to protect non-juring priests and refusal to raise militias in defence of the revolutionary government led to the constitutional monarchy being overthrown in the August 10 Insurrection.
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