Question

What were the main features of the Constitution of 1791?

Answer 1

Hint: Constitution of 1791, i.e., the French constitution created by the National Assembly during the French Revolution, retained the monarchy, but sovereignty effectively resided in the Legislative Assembly, which was elected by a system of indirect voting.

Complete answer:
In the given question, we have to find out what the main features of the French Constitution of 1791 were. Following are thus the main or key features of the Constitution of 1791, or the French Constitution -
A.Constitutional Monarchy
The Constitution of 1791 made the country of France a Constitutional monarchy.
A constitutional monarchy is a monarchy in which the monarch's power is limited by a written constitution.
B.National Assembly
The National Assembly was indirectly elected and with it rested the power to make laws and also exercise control over the monarch and the ministers. It was a revolutionary assembly which was formed by the representatives of the Third Estate of the Estates-General.
C.Right to Vote
Men above 25 who paid taxes equivalent to at least three days of one laborer’s wage were given the active citizen status, and were thus entitled to vote. The remaining people had no voting rights and were passive citizens.
D.Power Distribution in Institutions
The powers amongst the institutions were distributed since the clergy and nobility were stripped off of their powers. The aristocracy had fought to keep holding their powers, however, that did not happen.

Note: In this question, it will be helpful for the student to recall the Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen enlisted in the French Constitution. The French Constitution began with this. The Declaration of Rights of Man and Citizen enlisted various rights like the right to life, freedom of opinion, freedom of speech, and equality before law.