THE ELECTORAL SYSTEM

The decision to retain manhood suffrage clearly distinguished the Second Empire from previous monarchical regimes. This was a monarchy which owed its legitimacy not to divine right but to the popular will. The constitution required occasional plebiscites to sanction major constitutional change, together with regular elections to the Corps législatif, each of them, in effect, a quasi-plebiscite on the regime itself. Electoral failure would have heralded collapse. As the Prince-President had insisted, ‘if I no longer possess your confidence, if your ideas have changed, there is no need to make precious blood flow, it is enough to place a negative vote in the ballot box. I will always respect the people's judgement.’ A dangerous promise from someone intending to found a dynasty. Therefore, the regime made every effort to ensure that such a defeat did not occur. Morny insisted on the crucial importance of the 1852 election – ‘a grave affair which will be either a corollary or a contradiction of the vote of 20 December’ legitimising the coup d'état.

The electoral system adopted, voting procedures, and candidate selection were all designed to reinforce the government's position. The scrutin de liste system of the Second Republic, which had provided for multi-member constituencies in the hope of diluting the influence of traditional notables, was abandoned in favour of the scrutin d'arrondissement with its single-member constituencies, a system giving more weight to personalities than programmes, and justified on the grounds that deputies would be better known to their constituents.