60] ANNUAL REGISTER, 1800. 



Next in dignity and consequence 

 to the consulate was the conserva- 

 tive senate, composed of eighty 

 memhers, irremoveable, and for 

 life, who should be forty years of 

 age at least. For the formation of 

 the senate, sixty members were at 

 first appointed by the consuls. This 

 number was to be increased to that 

 of sixty-two in the course of the 

 year 8 ; to sixty-four in the course 

 of the year 9, and thus be gradually 

 increased to eighty, by the addition 

 of two members during each of the 

 ten first years. The appointment 

 to the situation of a senator to be 

 made by the senate itself, which 

 was to choose one out of three can- 

 didates presented, the first by the 

 legislative body, the second by the 

 tribunate, and the third, by the 

 chief consul. The senate was to 

 maintain or annul all the resolu- 

 tions referred to it as unconstitu- 

 tional by the tribunate or the go- 

 vernment. 



The legislative body was com- 

 posed of three hundred members, 

 none less than thirty years of age. 

 It was always to contain, at least, 

 one citizen from each department 

 of the republic. The legislative 

 body enacted laws by a private 

 ballot, and without any discussion 

 on the part of the members, respect- 

 ing the projects of laws debated in 

 its presence, by the speeches of 

 the tribunate and government. 

 The tribunate was composed of a 

 hundred members, at least twenty- 

 five years of age. They were to 

 be renewed by a fifth part every 

 year ; and were indefinitely eligible 

 as long as they continued on the na- 

 tional list. The tribunate was to 

 discuss the project of a law, and 

 vote for its adoption or rejection. 

 It was to send three speakers, chosen 



out of its own number, who were 

 to explain and defend its views 

 and motives, in either case, before 

 the legislative body. It might re- 

 fer to the senate : but that solely on 

 the ground of constitutionality, the 

 list of persons eligible, the proceed- 

 ings of the legislative body, and the 

 proceedings of government. It 

 might express an opinion respect- 

 ing laws made, or to be made con- 

 cerning abuses that might require 

 correction, or improvements to he 

 made in any part of the public ad- 

 ministration : but such opinion had 

 no necessary consequence, and was 

 not to bind any constituted autho- 

 rity to act. The sittings of the se- 

 nate were not to be public. The 

 sittings of the legislative body and 

 the tribunate were to be public. 

 The number of strangers in both 

 not to exceed two hundred in each. 

 When the tribunate should adjourn 

 itself, it might appoint a committee 

 of from ten to fifteen members, au- 

 thorised to assemble it if thought 

 advisable. The sitting of the le- 

 gislative body was to commence 

 evei-y year on the twenty-second of 

 November, and to continue only 

 four months. But it might be con- 

 voked, extraordinarily, during the 

 eight remaining months by the go- 

 vernment. 



The revenues of certain national 

 domains, to be fixed on, were to 

 be liable to the payment of the ex- 

 penses of the state. The annual 

 salary of each member to be equal 

 to the twentieth part of that of the 

 chief consul. The salary of a tri- 

 bune was 625l. annually ; that of a 

 legislator, 41 6/. 



With regard to the new judica- 

 tories proposed, and the new regu- 

 lations respecting the exercise of 

 various ministerial functions, it may 



