Page:The Constitutions and Other Select Documents Illustrative of the History of France, 1789-1907, Second Edition, Revised and Enlarged.pdf/116

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86
Constitution of 1791

given or transmitted. They can, likewise, suspend them from their functions in case of persistent disobedience, or if these latter compromise by their acts the public security or tranquility, provided that notification thereof be given to the king who can remove or confirm the suspension.

7. When the department administrators shall not have used the power which is delegated to them in the article above, the king can annul directly the acts of the sub-administrators and suspend them in the same cases.

8. Whenever the king shall have pronounced or confirmed the suspension of administrators or sub-administrators, he shall give notice thereof to the legislative body.

This [body] may remove the suspension or confirm it, or even dissolve the guilty administration and, if there is need, send all the administrators or any of them to the criminal tribunals, or bring against them the decree of accusation.

Section III. Of the external relations.

1. The king alone can enter upon political relations abroad, conduct negotiations, make preparations for war proportioned to those of the neighboring states, distribute the forces of the army and the navy as he shall deem suitable and control the direction thereof in case of war.

2. Every declaration of war shall be made in these terms: On the part of the King of the French, in the name of the nation.

3. It belongs to the king to conclude and sign with all foreign powers all treaties of peace, alliance, and commerce. and all other conventions which he shall deem necessary for the welfare of the state, subject to the ratification of the legislative body.

Chapter V. Of the Judicial Power.

1. The judicial power cannot in any case be exercised by the legislative body nor by the king.

2. Justice shall be rendered gratuitously by judges elected at stated times by the people and instituted by letters patent of the king, who cannot refuse them.

They cannot be removed except for duly pronounced forfeiture, nor suspended save by an accepted accusation.

The public accuser shall be chosen by the people.