General States (France)

Opening of the General States in Versailles on May 5, 1789

General headquarters in France ( Fr. États Généraux ) - the highest estate and representative institution in 1302 - 1789 .

The emergence of the General States was associated with the growth of cities, the exacerbation of social contradictions and class struggle, which necessitated the strengthening of a feudal state.

The predecessors of the States General were extended meetings of the royal council (involving the city leaders), as well as the provincial assemblies of the estates (which initiated the provincial states). The first General States were convened in the year 1302 , during the period of the conflict of Philip IV the Beautiful with Pope Boniface VIII .

The States General was a representative body convened at the initiative of the royal power at critical times to assist the government. Their main function was to vote taxes . Each estate - the first , second , third estate - met in the States General separately from the others and had one vote (regardless of the number of representatives). The third estate was represented by the top citizens.

The importance of the General States increased during the Hundred Years War , 1337-1453 , when the royal power particularly needed money. During the period of popular uprisings of the XIV century (Paris uprising of 1357–1358 , Jacquerie of 1358 ), the General States claimed active participation in governing the country (such requirements were expressed by the General States of 1357 in the “ Great March Ordinance ”). However, the lack of unity between the cities and their irreconcilable enmity with the nobility made fruitless attempts by the French General States to achieve the rights that the English parliament managed to win.

At the end of the 14th century, the States General convened less and less often and were replaced by notable assemblies. Since the end of the 15th century, the institution of the General States fell into disrepair due to the development of absolutism that had begun , and they did not convene at all during the years 1484-1560 (a certain revival of their activities was observed during the Religious Wars - the General States were convened in 1560 , 1576 , 1588 , and 1593 years ).

From 1614 to 1789, the States General never met again. Only on May 5, 1789, in the conditions of an acute political crisis on the eve of the French Revolution , did the King convene the General States. On June 17, 1789, the deputies of the third estate declared themselves the National Assembly ; on July 9, the National Assembly declared itself the Constituent Assembly , which became the highest representative and legislative body of revolutionary France.

In just five centuries of existence of the Institute of General States, 34 convocations were held, and 21 of them - during the XIV century.

In the twentieth century, the name of the General States accepted some representative assemblies that deal with current political issues and express broad public opinion (for example, the General States Assembly for Disarmament, May 1963 ).