Tribunat

In France, the Tribunat was one of the four assemblies, with the Council of State, the legislative Body and the Sénat instituted by the Constitution of year VIII. It was officially installed the 11 nivôse year VIII ( January 1st 1800 ), at the same time as the legislative Body. Its first president was the Historien Pierre Daunou, that its independence of mind will make draw aside by Bonaparte in 1802.

Mode of election

Like those of the legislative Body, the members of Tribunat are not elected with the Vote for all direct. They are indicated by the Sénat, at the end of a complex process, on “national lists of notabilities”, established following a series of votes “in cascade”: the citizens elect initially “communal notabilities”, who in their turn will designate “departmental notabilities”, and these last choose finally the “national notabilities”.

Functions

Tribunat had as functions contradictorily to discuss the bills with the speakers of the Gouvernement in the presence of the legislative Body. This one could only vote, but was only advisory, the decision returning always as a last resort to the First consul.

History

As of the shortly after the Coup d'etat of the 18 brumaire, Tribunat becomes a hearth of opposition to the mode that the First consul is setting up. Thus, as of the January 7th, Benjamin Constant intervenes in Tribunat, and, in a speech which reveals it like the leader of the opposition, denounces “the mode of constraint and silence” which prepares.

Composed of liberal personalities, such as Benjamin Constant, of which the independence from point of view appeared prejudicial with the order and the political unit that Bonaparte wanted to establish, Tribunat initially was purified (1802), then removed (1807).

Let us note that the parcelling out of the legislative Body tended to reinforce the capacities of the executive . The introduction of the plebiscite, by reducing the legitimacy and thus the capacity of the rooms had the same goal. If Tribunat were a body of the Séparation of the capacities, this last did not allow it indeed. -----

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