The Stourbridge Observer, Cradley Heath, Halesowen & District Chronicle.
Stourbridge, West Midlands, England, 1875-03-27 00:00:00

FRANCE AND HER CONSTITUTIONS.

During the last ninety years France has had no less than
seventeen "Constitutions," and still the country is not
happy. A recapitulation of these experiments will doubt-
less be of interest to English readers, and will at the same
time clearly establish that in Constitution-making they do
not "manage these things better in France" :

Constitution No. 1. May 4th, 1789. Prior to this
date France was governed absolutely !by the King
and his ministers, but the States-General, which
had been in abeyance for 175 years, was assembled
in the tennis court at Versailles, and at once com-
menced to manufacture a new Constitution.
Constitution No. 2. September 14th, 1791. The
Constituencies elected delegates, who elected
assemblies, who elected the Legislature. The ex-
ecutive power vested in the King, and all laws sub-
jected to the Royal sanction.
Constitution No 3. June 23rd, 1793. The laws were to
be submitted for approval to the people congregated
in " primary " assemblies. The executive power
vested in a council of twenty-four members. First
plebiscite. This "Constitution" lasted four months.
Constitution No. 4. October 10th, 1793. All the
powers, executive and legislative, vested in the Na-
tional Convention. This was followed by the "Reign
of Terror."

Constitution No. 5. August 22nd, 1795. The Con-
vention prior to its dissolution voted a "new Con-
stitution. The Executive was in the hands of a
Directory, consisting of five members, and the Houses
of Legislature were known as the Council of the
Ancients and the Council of the Five Hundred.
Second plebiscite.
Constitution No. 6. December 13th, 1799. The Exe-
cutive vested in three Consuls (Bonaparte, Sieyes,
and Cambaceres). The legislative power in the
Tribunate, Corps Legislatif, and Senate. Thirdp/e-
-biscite.
Constitution No. 7. August 2nd, 1802. Bonaparte
made Consul for life, and the Constitution modified.

Fourth plebiscite.
Constitution No. 8. May 18th, 1804. An hereditary
Empire created in favour of Napoleon and his heirs.
Fifth plebiscite.
Constitution No. 9. June 14th, 1814. The executive
power vested in the King (Louis XVIII.) The
legislative power vested in the King, hereditary
House of Peers, and Chamber of Deputies. The
electors to consist of those who paid 300 francs direct

taxation per annum.
Constitution No. 'lO. March let, 1815. Napoleon
escaped from Elba, and a new Constitution drawn
up combining Imperialism and Parliamentary Go-
vernment. Sixth plebiscite. This Constitution col-
lapsed at the end of the 100 days, and the Constitu-
tion of the year prior again came into operation.
Constitution No. 11. August 14th, 1840. Hereditary
peerage abolished, and qualification for electors re-
duced to 200 francs.
Constitution No. 12. February 24th, 1848. Louis
Philippe abdicates, and the following day the
Republic is proclaimed.
Constitution No. 13. January 4th, 1852. Louis
Napoleon named "President of the Republic " for
ten years. The legislative powers vested in a Senate
and Corps L4gislatif. Seventh plebiscite.
Constitution No. 14. November 7th, 1852. The Em-
pire re-established. Eighth plebiscite.
Constitution No. 15. May Bth, 1870. The Emperor
Napoleon 111. submitted the question of Constitu-
tional Government to the vote. Ninth plebiscite.
Constitution No. 16. September 4th, 1870. Napoleon
111. deposed, and the Republic proclaimed.
Constitution No. 17, February 25th, 1875. The
National Assembly votes a new Constitution.
France to be governed by a President with all the
powers exercised by that officer in the United
States, but unrestricted by the joint powers of the
Senate over patronage; by a Senate of 225 Members
elected by double election and 75 Life Members
nominated by this Assembly; and by a Chamber
of Deputies, comprising 750 Members, elected by
universal suffrage and the scrutin deliste—that is, by
all electors in a department voting for all its repre-
sentatives.—Court Journal.