Consulate

Consulate, form of government in France from 1799 to 1804, established after the overthrow of the Directory (the executive branch of the Republican government of France) by Napoleon, later the emperor of France. The overthrow took place on November 9 and 10, 1799, or, by the French calendar in use at the time, on the 18th Brumaire of the Year VIII of the French Republic. Those members of the French legislature under the Directory who approved of the overthrow appointed three consuls to rule France. Napoleon, now known as Napoleon I, served as first consul. The two other consuls, Emmanuel Joseph Sieyès and Pierre Ducos, served as his advisors. Sieyès and Ducos were soon replaced by Jean Cambacérès and Charles Lebrun. This approach to a monarchical government was confirmed on December 24, 1799, by the constitution of the Year VIII, by which Napoleon was made first consul. The constitution made provisions for a senate of 60 members appointed for life, a tribunate of 100 members, a legislative assembly of 300, and 3 consuls elected by the senate for 10-year terms and eligible for reelection. The powers of the various legislative bodies, however, were very limited, while those of the first consul were made almost absolute. As first consul, Napoleon took up residence in Paris at the Tuileries palace, traditionally the residence of the French royal family. In May 1802 he was reelected for ten years, and in August of the same year, under the revised constitution, he was made first consul for life. The Consulate was dissolved in 1804 when Napoleon became emperor.