The 1791 Constitution of the French Revolution
The Constitution of 1791 is the product of the early years of the Revolution French, and marked a very important milestone in the advancement of participation politics compared to the previous model Old Regime. We have already talked about the historical facts who were marking the path of Revolution during the Assembly, Let us now see what his greatest task was: the Constitution of 1791.
The September 3, 1791the National Constituent Assemblyapproved the Constitution of 91 which was in force until August 10, 1792. She proclaimed the principle of popular sovereignty and organized a system of parliamentary monarchyintroducing the division of powers of Montesquieu.
Suffrage: He was a census taker and divided the citizens in assets and liabilities. The assets were those who, in addition to meeting age and address requirements, paid a contribution equivalent to three days of work. Those who could not pay were considered passive citizens and did not have the right to vote.
The citizens Active voters voted (to be a voter you had to pay a direct contribution equivalent to ten days of work) and it was the voters who elected deputies (for this you had to own land and pay a direct contribution of one mark). Another characteristic was that active citizens had reserved for themselves the right to form part of the National Guard.
Legislative power: corresponded to a Assembly unique, permanent, inviolable and indissoluble. It was made up of 745 members who were elected every two years. This assembly had the right of initiative and voted on laws, controlled foreign policy, approved taxes and supervised the ministers, who had to render accounts to them when they left office.
Executive power: It corresponded to King, who was considered representative of the Nation. The Monarchy it was hereditary but the King had to swear fidelity to the Nation and to the law. He chose and dismissed his ministers but for his orders to be valid, he needed their signature. He appointed the high officials.
The king also conducted diplomacy but could not declare war without the consent of the Assembly. He had the right of suspensive veto, by which he could refuse for four years to comply with the resolutions of the Assembly, a right that did not apply to constitutional or fiscal laws.
The enactment of this Constitution by the National Constituent Assembly it was a great advance with respect to the pre-revolutionary situation. However, in practice, it implied the triumph of the conservative middle and upper bourgeoisie, since it was a kind of “transactional solution” with the monarchy. The balance pursued by this legislation would end up being too precarious, and in barely a year it would be shelved.
More information:
HAYES, Carlton. Political and cultural history of modern Europe.
Wikipedia
Video:
History Channel Documentary, cneyra2911 in Youtube
Images:
Assembly in session, on youtube
Louis XVI, on youtube