National Assembly (English: Assemblée nationale) (French)

The term is usually used to refer to the first French National Assembly established at the beginning of the French Revolution, but the National Assembly in the early Third Republic and the Lower House of the Fourth and Fifth Republics are all referred to as the National Assembly, in reference to the traditions of French democracy.

The bourgeois representatives of the Third Estate separated from the Three Estates General, which convened in Versailles in May 1789 and was the origin of the French Revolution. On June 17, they adopted the name National Assembly as the representative of the people, and on the 20th of the same month, they swore in the "Tennis Court Oath" that they would not disband until the constitution of the kingdom was established. Deputies from the clergy and aristocracy also joined, and the monarchy recognized this. On July 9, it was renamed the "Constituent National Assembly." Although the counter-revolutionary side tried to suppress it, the assembly began its activities with the support of the revolutionary people. In October 1789, it moved to Paris, and after enacting the "Constitution of 1791," the first constitution in France, which included national sovereignty, constitutional monarchy, separation of powers, and unicameral system with limited elections, it was dissolved on September 30, 1791. During this time, he promoted modernization by issuing the "Declaration of the Abolition of Feudal Rights" and the "Declaration of the Rights of Man," addressed financial and religious issues by confiscating and nationalizing church property, later issuing paper money, and enacting the Fundamental Law for the Clergy, and also developed administrative structures and districts, reformed the judicial system, and promoted economic liberalism by abolishing domestic customs and guilds. On the other hand, he enacted martial law and the Le Chapelier Law, and showed moves to suppress popular movements, such as the Champ de Mars massacre, but overall he reformed the absolute monarchy and feudal remnants, organized the political and social systems of a modern state, and played a central role in promoting the bourgeois democratic revolution.

The National Assembly, which was established in February 1871 in the early days of the Third Republic and dissolved at the end of December 1875, approved the provisional peace treaty following France's defeat in the Prussian-French War, and after suppressing the Paris Commune rebellion from March to May 1872, enacted the "Constitution of 1875" in January 1875, which included a republican system, a presidential system, a bicameral system, and universal male suffrage. The lower house of the Fourth Republic (1946-1958) was the first in France to be elected by universal suffrage, including women, and wielded strong powers. Conversely, the lower house of the Fifth Republic (since 1958) has been placed under the dominance of the executive branch.

[Shotaro Yamagami]

Source: Shogakukan Encyclopedia Nipponica About Encyclopedia Nipponica Information | Legend

普通、フランス革命初期に成立したフランス最初の国会をさすが、第三共和政初期の国会、および第四、第五共和政の下院を、いずれもフランス民主主義の伝統にちなんで国民議会とよぶ。

　1789年5月にベルサイユに招集され、フランス革命の発端となった三部会から、第三身分のブルジョア代議員たちが分離、6月17日、国民の代表として国民議会の呼称を採用、同月20日、「球戯場の誓い（テニスコートの誓い）」で、王国の憲法制定まで解散しないことを誓い、僧侶(そうりょ)・貴族の代議員も合流、王権もこれを認めた。7月9日「憲法制定国民議会」と改称され、反革命側はその弾圧を図ったが、革命的民衆の支援のもとに議会は活動を開始した。1789年10月、パリに移り、国民主権、立憲王制、三権分立、制限選挙の一院制などを含むフランスで最初の憲法「1791年憲法」を制定後、1791年9月30日解散した。この間、「封建的諸権利廃止宣言」や「人権宣言」を発して近代化を進め、教会財産没収と国有化、後の紙幣アッシニャ発行、聖職者基本法制定などによって財政、宗教問題に取り組み、また行政機構・区画の整備、司法改革を行い、国内関税やギルドを廃止して経済上の自由主義を発展させた。一方、戒厳令やル・シャプリエ法を制定し、シャン・ド・マルスの虐殺事件のように民衆運動を抑圧する動きを示したが、総じて絶対王制、封建遺制を改革して、近代国家の政治・社会体制を編成し、ブルジョア民主主義革命を推進する中核的役割を果たした。

　なお、第三共和政初期の1871年2月に成立、1875年12月末に解散した国会はプロイセン・フランス戦争敗北後の講和仮条約を承認し、1872年3～5月パリ・コミューンの反乱鎮圧を経て、1875年1月、共和制、大統領制、二院制、男子普通選挙などを含む「1875年憲法」を制定した。また、第四共和政期（1946～1958）の下院は、フランス初の婦人を含む普通選挙で選ばれ、強い権限をもった。第五共和政期（1958年以降）の下院は逆に行政府優越下に置かれている。

［山上正太郎］

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