CM Administrative/Judiciary Reforms 1789-91

Question 1

How were the old provinces that were abolished dealt with? What was the effect of this?

Answer 1

• Roughly divided by size
• Each divided into districts and those into communes which were a single town, parish or community
• Much more efficient for everything e.g. tax and voting

Question 2

How was power decentralised?

Answer 2

• No central government

- Each departemement had an elected (by active citizens) council of 36 and directorate of 8

Question 3

How was this decentralisation of power undermined?

Answer 3

• Income qualifications required to vote = admin usually bourgeoisie
• In rural communes too few literate people to fill posts so inequality between urban and rural areas

Question 4

What was the hierarchy of courts? This helped with efficiency…

Answer 4

• Tribunal de cassation (single central high court)
• Departement have court in capital
• District courts dealt with severe civil cases
• Justices of Peace heard minor civil cases in each group of communes

Question 5

How were criminal court judges appointed?

Answer 5

• By department elctoral assemblies (those who could vote)

Question 6

How did the judiciary system create a more free and equal France?

Answer 6

• Accused got lawyer’s assistance and proceedings open to public
• More and more judges who were paid less and made fairer judgements

Question 7

Flaw in JPs?

Answer 7

Had to have a tax liability worth 10 days’ wage to qualify