Charter of 1814

The Charte Constitutionnelle was since 1814 the constitutional basis of the restored Kingdom of France.

Content

In contrast to the constitutions of the revolutionary period, the Charter was not based on the principle of popular sovereignty or the agreement between the people and the monarch, but was of Louis XVIII. occasion of his accession to the throne on June 4, 1814 adopted on the basis of his monarchical power. The programmatic preamble in terms of the restoration came mainly from Jacques Claude Beugnot.

After all, since the monarch was bound by the Constitution. It guaranteed basic rights such as the central of equality before the law, individual speech, press and religion. For all the distancing of the principles of the Revolution, the Charte tied Constitutionnelle still on the political and administrative innovations in the years 1789-1814 to content.

She laid the basis for a constitutional system with a strong monarchical tip. The king was free at appointment and dismissal of his ministers, he retained control of the army and navy, the freedom of choice on war and peace, he had to complete the right diplomatic agreements, and in an emergency he had far- reaching order of powers.

This was offset by a comparatively weak bicameral parliament. This consisted of Deputies and a Chamber of Peers. The Parliament had the right to approve taxes and laws. The ministers responsible to Parliament. The Pairs as a member of a kind of upper house seats were hereditary or appointed by the king for life. The deputies emerged from elections. The option was there, however, severely limited by the census. The right to vote was a census of 300 francs a year. Overall, only about 100,000 people were eligible to vote in France. The passive suffrage was 1000 francs and presupposed the reach the age of 40 years. Selectable only a minority of 15,000 people.

The weakness of the Parliament consisted in the fact that the king had the right to convene, adjourn and resolution. The legislative initiative was the crown.

After the brief interlude of the Napoleonic one hundred days and a revised constitution of the Empire, the Charter was Constitutionnelle to the July Revolution of 1830. Subsequently, it was replaced by the same Constitution. These differed only in a few points from the first version. Was deleted as the emergency item. In addition, next to the crown was now the Parliament the right to initiate legislation. Another difference was that she now was based on an agreement between King Louis Philippe and the people. Still remained active and passive voting rights severely restricted. The Constitution of the July Monarchy remained until the February Revolution of 1848 in force.

In particular, the first charter served in the first half of the 19th century, the moderate liberal movement as a model. In contrast, the Liberals decided oriented more to the Spanish Constitution of Cadiz from the year 1812.