The daily union. [volume] (Washington [D.C.]) 1845-1857, 1848-12-01
THE Constitution OF ths French Repabic,
By the National assembly, in as sitting of the Al
Of November, 1s4s.


Voted by the National assembly, IN as sitting of the 4h
Of November, ls4s.
PREAMBLE.
In the pre- 'ence of God, and in the of the French
people, the National Assembly proclaims-
l. France has constituted herself republic In adopt
ing this form OF government, her aim and object is be
able 10 advance more freely the path of progress and
civil zaon-o secure and augment the comfort of every
one by more equitable division OF burdens, and grad
ual dmnutldn Of public expenditure and taxes and also
10 enable every citizen 10 aair without further disturb
ances, more elevated and increasing degree Of morality,
OF enlightenment and OF personal comfort by the ste
cesslye and constant action OF the institutions and laws
@ The French republic is democratic, and ndiyisi
BILE
g. It recognises fights and duties anterior to and supe-
rior TO all positive laws
4. Its principles are liberty, equality fraternity its
basis and foundation is, family labor, property and pub
lie order.
o. respects the nationality of foreign people, as it
determined 10 make It's own 10 be respected 1t under
takes for the purpose OF conquest and en-
ploys its armies against the liberty of any people.
6. Reciprocal duties bind the citizens to the republic
and the republic 10 the citizens.
7. Citizens love their country obey the republic
and defend il the OF their lives share the bur
dens OF the State. according TO their fortunes provide
for themselves by her labor, the means Of existence,
and BY their own orehought and care provide resources
fol the future. They must unite for the common good,
and help each other in bfotherly MANNER, aud aid to
preserve the general order by obeylng the moral and writ
ten laws which regulate society, both in families and
individuals
S. 1t is the duty of the republic to protect the citizen in
his person. his family, his religion, his property and his
labor and TO place that education which is necessary to
every within the reach of every 1t is also It's
duty by bothery assistance to existence TO the
poor and necesstous either by procuring employment for
heIh such as is within its power and not beyond its
sources by giving relief to those who are not able
work, and who have no family to help them,
In consideration of the performance of these duties,
and for the guarantee of all these rights the National
Assembly, faithful TO the traditions handed down from
the great Assemblies which inauguraed the French re-
public, decree AS fellows the constitution OF the re-
public:
CONSTITUTION
CHAPTER 1.-oF SOVEREIGNTY.
Art. The sovereignty resides in the otay of French
citizens II is inalienable and imprescrptibe. No indi
vidual fraction OF the people take TO themselves
the exercise OF this sovereignty.
CHATTER 2.-RIGtITs OF CrrIzENs-GuARANTEEs BY THE
CONSTITUTION.
Art q No one be arrested OF detained prisoner
less according to the prescription of the law
Art. g. The dwelling of every person Inhablting the
French soil is nvioable, and be entered except
according TO the forms and the provided by the
lazy.
Art 4. No one shall be removed from his natural
udges-no commissions or extraordinary Tribunals shall
be created Under any preext, or by any name.
Art s. The penalty OF death for political offences is
abolished
Art 8 Slavery canno, exist upon any territory belong
ing to France.
Art T. Every one may freely profess his religion,
and is receive from the State equal protection in the
exercise of his worship. The ministers of the different
religions present recognised by the law which may
be heieafte recognsed haze the right Of receiving pay
ment from the State.
AIT s. Citizens have the right of meeting and
bling peaceably and unamed order to petition or man.
fes their thoughts by OF the press otherwise
The exercise OF these rights is only limited by the rights
liberty of others, and by the interests of public safety
The press cannot in any circumstances be subjected TO
| censorship.
Art O. Teaching is free. The liberty Of teaching is
to be exercised according the capacity, and
raty determined by law and under the supervision and
superintendent of the state This superintendent is
to be extended to all the establishments Of education and
instruction, without any exception whatever
Art 10. All citizens equally admissible to all pub
lie empoymens without other cause OF preference than
merit, and according to the conditions determined by law
ALI titles OF nobility, all distinctions OF BIRTH GLASS; or
caste, are abolished forever
Art H. Property is nviolable; yet the state may de-
mand the sacrifice OF property for public utility legally
established, and III consideration OF Just and previous
indemnity.
Art IL. The confscation Of goods never be re-
established
Art. 49, The constitution guarantees to citizens the
liberty of labor and OF industry Society will favor and
encourage the development OF labor by gatuitoqs pri
eSus,v Of the Connection between the employer and the
journeyman; by the establishment of savings institutions,
and those Of credit; by agricultural institutions by vol
unary associations; and the establishment by the state
the departments, and the communes OF public works for
the employment of idle hands Society, also, will give
aid deserted Children to the SICK the aged the des
tue, and those whom their own families are not able to
support. -, -,
tract and engagement made by the State is to be lnvo
late.
| Art Is All taxes are for the common COOL. Every
one is to contribute according his and fortune.
Art l6. No tax be made levied except by force
of law.
Art IT, Direct taxation is only accorded for one year.
Indirect taxes may be for several years
CHAPTER 3-oF PUBLIC DUTIES.
Art 49, All public powers, whatever they may be-
emanae from the people They cannot be delegated by
hereditary tradition.
Art 49, The separation of powers is the first duty Of
free government.
CHAPTER 4.-oF THE LEGISLATIVE POWER.
Art 20. The French people delegate the legislative
power to sing assembly.
Art 81 The whole number of representatives shall be
80, including those from Algeria and the French colo
MES.
Art % This number shall be raised TO the total of
900 for assemblies called together to revise the cons
tuition.
Art %. Population shall be the basis for election.
Art "a. Suffrage shall be direct and universal. The
act of voting shall be secret
Art %. All Frehchmen aged 81, AMI in the enjoy
men OF their civil and political rights are electors, with
out property conditions OF any kind.
Art 26. All electors eligible to be elected without
property, conditions reference TO place OF dwelling
who 25 years OF age, and in the enjoyment OF their
civil and political rights
Art 81 The electoral law will determine the causes
which may deprive French citizen of the right Of
electing or being elected 1t will designate those c
who, after having exercised official functions IN
department territory, will not be eligible IN those
places.
| Art 2s The exercise of any remunerating public func
ton incompatible with the trust OF representative OF
the people No member OF the Assembly can be nomi-
mated raised 10 public Offices receiving salary and the
appointment to which proceeds from the Executive, du
ring the continuance of the legislature. Exceptions TO
the above be settled by the