French Constitution of 1793

The French Constitution of 1793, which was primarily designed by Marie -Jean Hérault de Séchelles, Georges Couthon and Louis Antoine de Saint -Just, was a constitution of the First French Republic. It was adopted on June 24, 1793 and adopted by the National Convention on August 10, 1793 in a referendum by a large majority. This is the first republican constitution in France. It is considered very democratic, but never entered into force, instead exercised by autumn 1793 to summer of 1794 of the Welfare Committee a bloody reign of terror ( la grande Terreur ) from.

Content

The basis of the Constitution was the Declaration of Human and Civil Rights on 26 August 1789. Goal is the " general happiness " based on the natural and legal equality of all people. Are seen as key rights: freedom, equality, security and property ( "It means that everyone has their goods and its income, own the product of his labor and his labor in their absolute discretion and may dispose of it "). There is also a right of resistance against arbitrary power ( "the government violates the people's rights, insurrection is for the people and for each group of the people the most sacred and unconditional obligation "). Worldwide for the first time there should be a universal and equal suffrage (for men). Unlike enshrined in the Constitution of 1791, the voters should directly - determine the composition of the National Assembly - without the interposition of electors.

The majority of the National Convention, which had initially agreed to the draft constitution, refused after the successful referendum to let the new constitution come into force and decided to continue to maintain the then provisional government as a revolutionary government. After the end of the Reign of Terror France received in the fall of 1795, the Board of Directors Constitution with limited suffrage.