France

Abstract

The present constitution of France, voted by the National Assembly, elected in 1871, bears date February 25, 1875. It vests the legislative power in an assembly of two houses, the Chamber of Deputies and the Senate, and the executive in a chief magistrate called President of the Republic. The Chamber of Deputies is elected by universal suffrage, under the ‘scrutin d’arrondissement,’ adopted by the National Assembly, November 11, 1875. The law orders that every arrondissement has to elect one deputy, and if its population is in excess of 100,000, an additional deputy for each 100,000, or portion thereof. There were 10,194,593 ‘électeurs politiques,’ or persons possessing votes, in the year 1882, that is 1 in every 3•7 of the population, or 26•85 per cent. of the total population. At the last election (1881) 6,944,531, or 69 per cent., of the electors voted. There are 10,008,548 municipal electors. To be an elector a man must be twenty-one years old, and be possessed of citizenship, which is obtained by a two years’ residence in any one town or canton. Men once convicted of felony or desertion are perpetually disfranchised; while the only requisite for a deputy is to be a citizen and twenty-five years of age. There are 557 members in the Chamber of Deputies.