The new Constitution of Year VIII, Year X and Year XII

Question 1

The constitution of year VIII

Answer 1

(24th december 1799)
Written by Sieyes and Pierre Daunou (former Girondin)
Basis of french consulate of 1799 - 1804

Question 2

First conceal

Answer 2

Shared executive power with the other 2 consoles
All held office for 10 years
Acted as director of policy and initiator of all legislations

Question 3

Council of state

Answer 3

Chosen by the first consul
Acted as an advisory body
Nominated officials and prepared draft legislations

Question 4

Senate

Answer 4

Comprised 80 members nominated by the first consul
Appointed for life
Duty to ‘protect the constitution’
Advised the first consul on draft legislations
Selected deputies for the tribunate and legislative body
Could override decisions made by the legislature through senatus consultum

Question 5

Legislative body

Answer 5

Upper chamber of the legislative
Composed 300 members
Vote on legislations but not discuss it

Question 6

Tribunate

Answer 6

Lower chamber of the legislature
Composed of 100 members
Would discuss legislation but not vote

Question 7

First stage of voting

Answer 7

All frenchmen over 21 (6 million)
Required to live in the same house for 1 year
Voted for 10% of them to form a communal list

Question 8

Second stage of voting (communal list)

Answer 8

600,000 citizens
Members selected 10% of themselves to form the department list

Question 9

Third stage of voting (department list)

Answer 9

60,000 citizens
Members selected 10% of themselves to form the notables

Question 10

6000 notables

Answer 10

Senate selected deputies to form the legislature from these notables

Question 11

2nd and 3rd consul

Answer 11

Sieyes and Ducos step down
Replaced by Cambaceres, moderate republican (2nd consul) and Lebrun, royalist (3rd consul)

Question 12

Strengths

Answer 12

Strong top down control
Gave the vote to all adult men

Question 13

Limitations

Answer 13

First constitution to not be accompanied by the declaration of rights
Universal vote diluted through the multiple rounds of voting
Senatus consultun offered the first consul a way of bypassing opposition in the legislative body
No elections just presentations of candidates
Candidates restricted to notables

Question 14

plebiscite

Answer 14

Submitted for approval in a plebiscite february 1800
3,011,007 in favour
1562 against