The Estates
The Estates General had legally no share in the legislative power, which belonged to the king alone. The Estates of Blois demanded in 1576 that the king be bound to turn into law any proposition voted in identical terms by each of the three orders; but Henry III would not grant this demand, which would not even have left him a right of veto. In practice, however, the Estates General contributed largely to legislation. Those who sat in them had at all times the right of presenting complaints ("doléances"), requests and petitions to the king; in this, indeed, consisted their sole initiative. They were usually answered by an "ordonnance", and it is chiefly through these that we are acquainted with the activity of the estates of the 14th and 15th centuries.