Consitution of the Directory

Question 1

Directory of the Five

Answer 1

• five directors would be chosen by the Ancients from a list provided by the Five Hundred
• The directors formed the executive and appointed ministers
• one member chosen by Lost would retire each year and none could also sit in the councils

Question 2

Council of Five Hundred

Answer 2

• comprised deputies over the age of 30
• proposed and drew up all legislation but did not vote on it

Question 3

Council of Ancients

Answer 3

• comprised 250 married or widowed men over 40
• examined and approved or rejected legislation but did not propose it

Question 4

nature of the constitution

Answer 4

Elections: annually, with a 1/3 of the deputies stepping down every year

Electors: those paying a certain sum in taxation were eligible to sit in the assemblies. this created an electorate of roughly a million of which 30,000 were eligible to sit in the resulting assemblies

Voters: all male taxpayers over 21 were ‘citizens’ who could vote this meant 5.5 of 8 million adult males were entitled to vote.