Question

Compare the political rights which the Constitution of 1791 gave to the citizens with Articles from 1 to 6 of the Declaration. Are the two documents consistent? Do the two documents convey the same idea ?

Answer 1

• The 1st Article of the Declaration says that ‘All men are free and equal in rights’. 
• The 6th Article of the Declaration says that ‘All citizens have the right to participate in the formation of laws’. 
• But the Constitution of 1791 contradicted with the Declaration of Rights in giving all the citizens equal political rights. 
• According to the Constitution only men above 25 years of age and who paid taxes equal to at least 3 days of a labourer’s wage were given the right to vote.
• Thus the Constitution violates the Declaration of Rights. 
• Thus we can say two documents contradicted with each other. They do not convey the same idea.