Having in the preceding chapter given an account of the constitution and government of France before the Revolution, let us consider, in the next place, of the present constitution and government of that kingdom.
We must therefore observe:
1. That the constitution is changed from monarchy to democracy; that the legislative powers are taken from the king, and vested in the people.
2. That the kingdom is divided into eighty grand divisions, and subdivided into seven hundred and twenty commonalities and 6480 cantons.
3. That each commonality is empowered to send one representative to the National Assembly.
4. That the National Assembly is composed of seven hundred and twenty members, when the whole are convened.
5. That this assembly is the supreme legislative head of the nation.
6. That the power of making laws, raising of taxes, the coining, borrowing, and lending of money; the setting up and pulling down of officers, granting of commissions and employments; the making of war and peace; and the entering into treaties and alliances with foreign powers, belongs to this assembly only.
7. That the king is only an executive officer, as he is to see the laws of the representatives of the nation executed.
The king is to execute the actual decrees of the National Assembly, respecting war and peace; and is allowed to provide for the safety of the realm, in case of a foreign invasion, during the recess of the assembly.