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"J'suis du Tiers-état." — "I'm the
Third Estate"
Proclamation of the National
Assembly 1789
The National Assembly, or in
French
Assemblée Nationale,
was proclaimed by the
Third Estate
on June 17, 1789.
Here follows the English translation
of the declaration of the constitution of the National Assembly:
The Assembly, deliberating after
having verified its powers, recognizes that this Assembly is already
composed of representatives sent directly by at least ninety-six percent of the nation.
Such a mass of deputies cannot remain inactive, on account of the
absence of the deputies of some bailliages [French
prefecture], or of certain classes of citizens; for the absentees,
who have been summoned, cannot prevent those present from the full
exercise of their rights, especially when the exercise of these
rights is an imperious and pressing duty.
Besides, since it belongs only to the representatives who have
verified their powers, to concur in the formation of the national
wish, and since all the representatives so verified should be in
this Assembly, it is therefore indispensable to conclude that it
belongs to it, and to it only, to interpret and exhibit the general
will of the nation; so that between the Throne and this Assembly,
there can exist no veto, no negative power.
The Assembly therefore declares,
That the
common work of National Reform can, and
ought to be commenced without delay by the
Deputies present, and that they ought to
pursue it without interruption, and without
obstacles.
The title of National Assembly is the
only one befitting the Assembly in the actual
situation of affairs, because the members
composing it are the only representatives
lawfully and publicly acknowledged and verified;
because they are directly sent by almost the
whole of the nation; and lastly, because the
representation being one, and indivisible, none
of the deputies chosen, in whatever order of
class, has a right to exercise his sanctions
separately from the present Assembly.
The Assembly will not forego the hopes of
uniting to itself all the deputies this day
absent; it will not cease to call them to
fulfill their obligation of concurring at the
holding of the States-General. The moment the
absent deputies shall present themselves in the
course of the session now about to commence, the
Assembly declares beforehand, that it will be
eager to receive them, and to share with them,
after the verification of their powers, the
continuance of those important labors which are
to procure the regeneration of France.
The National Assembly determines,
That the
motives for the present deliberation shall
be immediately drawn up, in order to be
presented to the King and to the Nation.
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