National Constituent Assembly (France, 1789–1791)

The Estates-General convened at Versailles in May 1789 with deputies elected separately by clergy, nobility and the Third Estate. The dispute over voting by order or by individual deputy developed into a struggle over joint verification of credentials and national representation.

On 17 June the Third Estate and clerical allies declared themselves a National Assembly. The Tennis Court Oath of 20 June committed deputies to remain together until a constitution was established. On 9 July the body adopted the title National Constituent Assembly, claiming authority beyond the original estate-based framework.

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Rules adopted on 29 July provided for one president and six secretaries. The president served fifteen days without immediate renewal, directing proceedings and announcing decisions. Half the secretaries rotated every fifteen days, sharing minutes, correspondence and official documents.

Deputies were assigned alphabetically to bureaux, recomposed monthly, where motions could be discussed without final decisions. Committees were elected, with simultaneous membership of two prohibited. Legislative, constitutional and financial motions were printed for deputies; approved minutes were also distributed. These procedures connected preparatory discussion, plenary votes and documentary records.

References: [2]

The constitutional debates included disputes over royal power and property qualifications. In August 1791 Robespierre opposed fiscal barriers. The Assembly removed the silver-mark tax threshold for eligibility as a deputy but retained distinctions among passive citizens, active citizens and electors.

The Constitution adopted on 3 September established constitutional monarchy with a single legislative chamber and royal executive. The new Legislative Assembly met on 1 October. Its subsequent decisions, and those of the Convention beginning in 1792, belonged to successor institutions rather than this constituent body.

References: [3] [4]