The constitution was modified by the French Senate (by a "senatus-consulte") on 7 November 1852 to permit the re-establishing of the Empire, with the crown to be hereditary in Louis-Napoléon and his family. Louis Napoléon was persuaded that democracy needed to be incarnated in a man, and the Constitution of 1851 was a return to the democratic Caesarism of his uncle Napoléon Bonaparte. The Constitution of the Year VIII, adopted December 24, 1799, established the Consulate. The Constitution established the House of Bonaparte as France’s imperial dynasty, making the throne hereditary in Napoleon’s family. Although France had already established an overseas colonial empire beginning in the 17th century, the French state had remained a kingdom under the Bourbons and a republic … He was commander-in-chief of the armed forces, and had the powers of clemency and amnesty, as well as the ability to enact and sign treaties. The Legislative Body could neither amend laws nor censure the actions of the ministers, and had no legislative autonomy, as its president and its rules were designated by the government. The constitution was approved in a plebiscite held the following January, with 99.94 percent officially listed as voting “yes.”. The two French parliamentary assemblies were highly controlled and had limited powers. The Conservative Senate (Sénat conservateur) was a governmental body equal to the three aforementioned legislative assemblies. The plot included Bonaparte's brother Lucien, then serving as speaker of the Council of Five Hundred, Roger Ducos, another Director, and Talleyrand. It was the first constitution since the Revolution that did not include a Declaration of Rights. The First French Empire stands distinct from its imitator and would-be successor the Second French Empire of Napoleon III (1852-1870).Bonaparte’s march to empire began with the Constitution of the year X (August 1802). It was the main power of most of continental Europe during the early 19th century. Napoleon and his allies overthrew the Directory by a coup d’état on November 9, 1799 (the Coup of 18 Brumaire), closing down the Council of Five Hundred. It vested all the real power in the hands of the First Consul, leaving only a nominal role for the other two consuls. The same day, he had posters issued that proclaimed to the French people (Appel au peuple) his desire to restore the "system created by the First Consul" — his uncle and inspiration Napoleon Bonaparte. The executive power was vested in three Consuls, but all actual power was held by the First Consul, Bonaparte.Napoleon vetoed Sieyès’ original idea of having a single Grand Elector as supreme executive and Head of State. Napoleon became the First Consul for ten years, appointing two consuls with consultative voices only. A new constitution reduced the assembly’s power, and a plebiscite to approve the change was accompanied by officially inspired petitions for the empire’s restoration. Louis Napoléon effectively brought an end to the Second French Republic by the coup d'état of 2 December 1851. The president was vested with sweeping executive and legislative powers. The First French Empire (French: Empire Français), also known as the Greater French Empire or Napoleonic Empire, was the empire of Napoleon I of France. His power was confirmed by the new Constitution of the Year VIII, originally devised by Sieyès to give Napoleon a minor role, but rewritten by Napoleon and accepted by direct popular vote. The Corps législatif, or Legislative Body (the same name had been used for the lower house of the French legislature during the French Consulate and First French Empire from 1799–1814), comprised 260 deputies (representatives) elected for 6 years by direct universal suffrage, but gerrymandering of the election districts ("circonscriptions") and the system of "official candidates" favored partisans of the president/emperor. The Constitution of the Year XII was later extensively amended by the Additional Act (1815) after Napoleon returned from exile on Elba. Under the provisions of the constitution, Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte was automatically reelected to a fresh term as president. The French Revolution (French: Révolution française [ʁevɔlysjɔ̃ fʁɑ̃sɛːz]) is generally held to cover the period from May 1789 (when the Estates General assembled for the first time since 1614) through November 1799 (with the establishment of the French Consulate).Many of its principles are now considered fundamental aspects of Western liberal democracy. He created the impression that France was governed once more by a real statesman and that a competent government was finally in charge. Under the Legislative Assembly, which was in power before the proclamation of the First... National Convention. Following the restoration of the Monarchy The Constitution of the Year VIII was adopted on December 24, 1799, and established the form of government known as the Consulate. In 1804, the Constitution of the Year XII established the First French Empire with Napoleon Bonaparte I, Emperor of the French. Although France had already established an overseas colonial empire beginning in the 17th century, the French … Napoleon became Emperor of the French on 18 May 1804. He was assisted by the Council of State (Conseil d'État) which he controlled and presided, and whose job it was to write and support legislation. As the years progressed, he moved to consolidate his own power as First Consul and leave the two other consuls and the Assemblies weak and subservient. The Second Empire was proclaimed on 2 December 1852 and the Imperial Constitution was enacted on 25 December 1852, without any significant change to the 14 January constitution. The Constitution established the House of Bonaparte as France’s imperial dynasty, making the throne hereditary in Napoleon’s family. Over 99% of voters approved the motion, according to the released results. As a result of the spike in public violence and the political instability of the constitutional... Directory. On February 7, 1800, a public referendum confirmed the new constitution. Sieyès had intended to reserve this important position for himself but by vetoing the proposal, Napoleon helped reinforce the authority of the consuls. The people in each district chose a slate of notables by popular vote. The document virtually replaced the previous Napoleonic Constitutions and reframed the Napoleonic constitution into something more along the lines of the Bourbon Restoration Charter of 1814 of Louis XVIII while otherwise ignoring the Bourbon charter’s existence. On 9 November 1799 (18 Brumaire VIII under the French Republican Calendar) and … Napoleon treated it as a mere continuation of the previous constitutions, and it thus took the form of an ordinary legislative act “additional to the constitutions of the Empire.”, “Constitution_du_22_frimaire_an_VIII_13_décembre_1799._Page_3_-_Archives_Nationales_-_AE-I-29-4.jpg.”, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Year_X, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Charter_of_1815, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/French_Consulate, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Coup_of_18_Brumaire, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Year_XII, https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Constitution_of_the_Year_VIII, https://commons.wikimedia.org/wiki/File:Constitution_du_22_frimaire_an_VIII_(13_d%C3%A9cembre_1799)._Page_3_-_Archives_Nationales_-_AE-I-29-4.jpg, https://courses.lumenlearning.com/boundless-worldhistory/. 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