1791 Constitution of

France
Amigo Tutor:Theresa Shamiso Sibanda
Cell:0774658065

shamisoblessing@gmail.com
Mount pleasant high school
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INTRODUCTION

“We shall not separate until we have drafted the constitution

for France”
The members of the National Assembly vowed at the Tennis
Court not separate until a constitution was made for France.
The issue of drafting a constitution was vital during the
course of the French revolution.
Hence the National Assembly drafted a constitution of 1791 .
It took then took more than 2 years to draft that constitution.
This constitution of 1791 was used by the Legislative
Assembly in 1791 October 1.
Influence to draft this constitution came
from:
Philosophers- Rousseau, Montesquieu and Voltaire
suggestions
Great thinkers like Diderot writings
Declaration of rights of men.
British system of government or constitutional monarchy.
Many people drafted this constitution and notable men
include Abbe Sieyès and Talleyrand, Lafayette
Representatives of the third estate or newly formed National
assembly influenced drafting of this constitution.
What was the constitution of 1791

A constitution is a body of laws that is used to govern the

state.
The constitution is used by a leader king or the executive.
The king is in longer above law but is guided by the
constitution.
The constitution clearly stipulates the role of the king
executive powers, legislature an judiciary.
It also stipulates rights of men enshrined in the constitution
ie that is right and responsibilities
It is liberal in nature and ends despotic powers of the king.
Provisions of the constitution

The provisions of this constitutions stipulates:

Role of the king.
Separation of powers.
Rights of men.
Citizen responsibilities.
Role of local government.
Ownership of land
Participants from the National Assembly should not join the
new legislative assembly
Constitutional monarchy

Monarch means king.

Monarchy is a government ruled by the king.
Constitutional monarchy is a government ruled by a king
who uses a constitution.
It eradicates despotism.
The king is now guided by a body of laws made by the
legislature.
The king is no longer above the law but now controlled by
this constitution.
(days when the king’s word was law and the law is myself
because I wish it were over)
Separation of powers

Power is separated into executive powers, legislative powers

and judiciary powers independent of the two.
Executive powers rest in the king and his ministers.
Legislative powers rest in the legislative assembly ( this is a
body that made laws.
Judiciary powers rest in lawyers, judges who uses the
constitution .
Judiciary is independent of the two powers stated above.
Judiciary use these powers in courts and in the
administration of justice.
Power of veto

The king was given power of 6 years suspensive veto

The king could veto laws for a period of up to 6 years not
more than that.
Veto means to block/refuse/reject/prohibit a law made by
the legislature.
This provision was tantamount to abuse by the king.
He will select laws that oppose his former despotism and
decide to block them.
Formation of a Legislative Assembly

Stipulates formation of a Legislative assembly.

What is legislature?
Legislature is a body that make laws.
Laws are no longer made by the king but by this body.
(group of 745 deputies)
King’s powers are limited
The Legislative Assembly was to be elected by active
citizens
It was supposed to have 745 deputies from different
political parties or clubs.
Active and Passive citizens

Active citizens were people who could work and pay reasonable
amount of tax (300 francs)and who were over 25years of age
These active citizens were allowed to vote for members who would
occupy legislative assembly.
Passive citizens were those people who did not contribute anything in
terms of taxes and were denied the right to vote.
In as much as the constitution talks of equality and right to vote this
provision denied some citizens right to vote.
They were categorized into active and passive citizens.
This provision of the constitution was rejected by Sancullotes ,Jacobin
poorer classes who felt issues of equality were not addressed
Limited king’s powers to appointment of
ministers

The constitution of 1791 limited kings powers.

King’s powers were limited to appointment of
ministers.
The king did not have control over foreign affairs
but was now decided by the assembly or debated
by the legislature.
He retained executive powers and 6 year
suspensive veto
Royalist sympathizers like feuillants were not
happy with this portion of limiting kings powers
Civil constitution of the clergy adopted

The constitution which was drafted for the church

was now formalized.
Bishops and priests were civil servants and paid by
state.
They no loner had control over education except
elementary education
Could not collect tithes
Religious toleration was adpoted
Declaration of rights of men and August
4 decrees formalized

Human rights enshrined in the DRM documents

was formalized.
It stipulated that Man has right to vote freedom of
speech, trial by jury sysytem
Equal opportunities in civil and military
appointments were introduced.
Local councils to
represent people
The country was divided into departments, arrondisemets
and and communes.
These departments were formalized.
The communes were to deal with problems at local level.
Local representatives were to solve issues at commune
level
It had weaknesses because the council at commune level
were occupied by overzealous and ambitious people.
They bullied the government and a later date even to the
point of carrying out a coup and formed defacto
government
Peasants and land possession

Peasants who purchased church lands were to

keep their possessions.
They were entiled to the land they got from the
church
This was also formalized too
New personnel were to occupy the
Legislative assembly
Former members of the National Assembly were not
elected into the new Legislative Assembly
Totally new people were to be elected by active citizen to
represent them
This was the body that was to make and debate laws for
France.
This posed a challenge of recruiting people with little
political experience or no political experience at national
level.
This left out people with substance and political grasp like
Lafayette, Abbe Sieyyes and Talleyrand
Groups that supported the constitution and
reasons

Feuilants were known as friends of this constitution.

Peasants who bought church lands.
Middle class who wanted active citizens to control
government issues.
Groups that opposed the constitution
and reasons

King was opposed to limited powers

Passive citizens felt this constitution did not
represent the poor as it denied them right to vote.
Radicals Sanculotees, Republicans and Jacobins
who preferred a republic than a monarchy.
Strengths of the constitution

Gave people liberties

There was Religious toleration
Separated powers
Kings powers were limited
Allowed communes to deal with local issues
Weaknesses of this constitution

6 year suspensive power of veto was tantamount to abuse

by the king.
Passive citizens denied right to vote.
Old members who had political experience were denied
chance to become deputies in the legislative assembly yet
had political experience.
Conclusion

After drafting the constitution the National assembly dissolved 30

September and gave way to the Legislative assembly.
The legislative assembly used this constitution of 1791.
Confronted with the weaknesses of the constitution new government
was bound to face challenges.
The members of the National assembly were not to participate in the
new legislative assembly.
The French up to his point maintained a constitutional monarchy and
still liked king as the leader of France
A carbon copy of British system of government admired by
personalities like Lafayette.
Practice questions

I. Examine the provisions of 1791 constitution of

France (25 marks)
2.What were the strength and weaknesses of the
constitution of 1791 in France ?(25)
3.Did the 1791 constitution of France solve French
problems.(25)
4.How popular was the constitution of France in
1791? (25)
5.Why was the constitution of 1791 in France
received with mixed feelings? (25)
THE END

SHAMISO THERESA SIBANDA

CELL: 07774658065
MOUNT PLEASANT HIGH SCHOOL