Under this system, France was led by a bicameral Parliament, consisting of an upper chamber called the Council of Elders (with 250 members) and a lower chamber called the Council of Five Hundred (with, accordingly, 500 members), and a collective Executive of five members called the Directory (from which the historical period gets its name).
Selle süsteemi kohaselt juhtis Prantsusmaad kahekojaline parlament, mis koosnes ülemkojast (Vanemate Nõukogu - 250 liiget) ja alamkojast (Viiesaja Nõukogu - vastavalt 500 liiget) ning viieliikmelisest kollektiivsest täidesaatvast valitsusest (Direktoorium - selle järgi sai nime ajalooperiood).