The Constitution of Year III

Question 1

When was the Constitution ratified?

Answer 1

22nd August 1795

Question 2

Who was allowed to vote and what was the system?

Answer 2

Primary Elections: All men over 21 who paid direct tax would vote for electors
Secondary Elections: Electors (who were very rich people and numbered around 30,000) would vote for deputies
Elections were held every year, in which a third of deputies had to retire

Question 3

How was the Legislature divided?

Answer 3

The Council of Five Hundred (men over 30 who would initiate legislation)
The Council of Ancients (250 men over the age of 40 who would approve or reject bills but could not introduce or change them)

Question 4

How was the Executive set up?

Answer 4

A Directory of 5 people, chosen by the Ancients from a list drawn up by the Five Hundred
They were in charge of diplomacy, military affairs and law enforcement
One director had to stand down every year, drawn by lot

Question 5

Why was the new Constitution weak? (3 points)

Answer 5

1. Yearly elections made the government unstable
2. There was no means of resolving conflict between the legislature and the executive
3. Either group could paralyse the other politically

Question 6

What was the ‘two-thirds’ decree?

Answer 6

Two-thirds of the new deputies in elections had to be chosen from existing members to avoid a royalist majority

Question 7

How many people did not vote in the plebiscite that passed the Constitution?

Answer 7

4 million