What were the main features of the Constitution of 1791?

• A. It established a constitutional monarchy with a Legislative Assembly, limited royal powers, and distinguished active and passive citizens with unequal political rights.
• B. It created a republic with universal suffrage and strong executive power.
• C. It restored absolute monarchy with a bicameral parliament.
• D. It dissolved the Estates and centralized power in the king alone.

Answer: (A)

The Constitution of 1791 created a constitutional framework that limited the king’s powers and established a representative legislature to govern the country. It established a constitutional monarchy where the king’s authority was checked by law, with the Legislative Assembly holding the main legislative power and ministers answerable to that body. It also introduced a division of political rights by class: active citizens, who were typically property owners, could vote and hold office, while passive citizens could not, resulting in unequal political rights. This setup marked a shift away from absolute monarchy toward a constitutional system, and it did not introduce universal suffrage or a republic.