DeclarationoftheRightsofManandCitizenfromtheConstitutionofYearI(1793)

Source:FrankMaloyAnderson,ed.,TheConstitutionsandOtherSelectDocuments
IllustrativeoftheHistoryofFrance17891901(Minneapolis:H.W.Wilson,1904),170
74.ReprintedinLiberty,Equality,Fraternity:ExploringtheFrenchRevolution,JackR.
CenserandLynnHunt,eds.(AmericanSocialHistoryProductions,2001)
TheFrenchpeople,convincedthatforgetfulnessandcontemptsofthenaturalrightsof
manarethesolecausesofthemiseriesoftheworld,haveresolvedtosetforthina
solemndeclarationthesesacredandinalienablerights,inorderthatallthecitizens,being
abletocompareunceasinglytheactsofthegovernmentwiththeaimofeverysocial
institution,mayneverallowthemselvestobeoppressedanddebasedbytyranny;andin
orderthatthepeoplemayalwayshavebeforetheireyesthefoundationsoftheirliberty
andtheirwelfare,themagistratetheruleofhisduties,thelegislatorthepurposeofhis
commission.
Inconsequence,itproclaimsinthepresenceofthesupremebeingthefollowing
declarationoftherightsofmanandcitizen.
1.Theaimofsocietyisthecommonwelfare.Governmentisinstitutedinorderto
guaranteetomantheenjoymentofhisnaturalandimprescriptiblerights.
2.Theserightsareequality,liberty,security,andproperty.
3.Allmenareequalbynatureandbeforethelaw.
4.Lawisthefreeandsolemnexpressionofthegeneralwill;itisthesameforall,
whetheritprotectsorpunishes;itcancommandonlywhatisjustandusefultosociety;it
canforbidonlywhatisinjurioustoit.
5.Allcitizensareequallyeligibletopublicemployments.Freepeoplesknownoother
groundsforpreferenceintheirelectionsthanvirtueandtalent.
6.Libertyisthepowerthatbelongstomantodowhateverisnotinjurioustotherightsof
others;ithasnatureforitsprinciple,justiceforitsrule,lawforitsdefense;itsmorallimit
isinthismaxim:Donotdotoanotherthatwhichyoudonotwishshouldbedonetoyou.
7.Therighttoexpressone'sthoughtsandopinionsbymeansofthepressorinanyother
manner,therighttoassemblepeaceably,thefreepursuitofreligion,cannotbeforbidden.
Thenecessityofenunciatingtheserightssupposeseitherthepresenceorthefresh
recollectionofdespotism.
8.Securityconsistsintheprotectionaffordedbysocietytoeachofitsmembersforthe

preservationofhisperson,hisrights,andhisproperty.
9.Thelawoughttoprotectpublicandpersonallibertyagainsttheoppressionofthose
whogovern.
10.Nooneoughttobeaccused,arrested,ordetainedexceptinthecasesdeterminedby
lawandaccordingtotheformsthatithasprescribed.Anycitizensummonedorseizedby
theauthorityofthelaw,oughttoobeyimmediately;hemakeshimselfguiltyby
resistance.
11.Anyactdoneagainstmanoutsideofthecasesandwithouttheformsthatthelaw
determinesisarbitraryandtyrannical;theoneagainstwhomitmaybeintendedtobe
executedbyviolencehastherighttorepelitbyforce.
12.Thosewhomayincite,expedite,subscribeto,executeorcausetobeexecuted
arbitrarylegalinstrumentsareguiltyandoughttobepunished.
13.Everymanbeingpresumedinnocentuntilhehasbeenpronouncedguilty,ifitis
thoughtindispensabletoarresthim,allseveritythatmaynotbenecessarytosecurehis
personoughttobestrictlyrepressedbylaw.
14.Nooneoughttobetriedandpunishedexceptafterhavingbeenheardorlegally
summoned,andexceptinvirtueofalawpromulgatedpriortotheoffense.Thelawwhich
wouldpunishoffensescommittedbeforeitexistedwouldbeatyranny:theretroactive
effectgiventothelawwouldbeacrime.
15.Thelawoughttoimposeonlypenaltiesthatarestrictlyandobviouslynecessary:the
punishmentsoughttobeproportionatetotheoffenseandusefultosociety.
16.Therightofpropertyisthatwhichbelongstoeverycitizentoenjoy,andtodisposeat
hispleasureofhisgoods,income,andofthefruitsofhislaborandhisskill.
17.Nokindoflabor,tillage,orcommercecanbeforbiddentotheskillofthecitizens.
18.Everymancancontracthisservicesandhistime,buthecannotsellhimselfnorbe
sold:hispersonisnotanalienableproperty.Thelawknowsofnosuchthingasthestatus
ofservant;therecanexistonlyacontractforservicesandcompensationbetweentheman
whoworksandtheonewhoemployshim.
19.Noonecanbedeprivedoftheleastportionofhispropertywithouthisconsent,unless
alegallyestablishedpublicnecessityrequiresit,anduponconditionofajustandprior
compensation.

20.Notaxcanbeimposedexceptforthegeneraladvantage.Allcitizenshavetherightto
participateintheestablishmentoftaxes,towatchovertheemploymentofthem,andto
causeanaccountofthemtoberendered.
21.Publicreliefisasacreddebt.Societyowesmaintenancetounfortunatecitizens,either
procuringworkforthemorinprovidingthemeansofexistenceforthosewhoareunable
tolabor.
22.Educationisneededbyall.Societyoughttofavorwithallitspowertheadvancement
ofthepublicreasonandtoputeducationatthedoorofeverycitizen.
23.Thesocialguaranteeconsistsintheactionofalltosecuretoeachtheenjoymentand
themaintenanceofhisrights:thisguaranteerestsuponthenationalsovereignty.
24.Itcannotexistifthelimitsofpublicfunctionsarenotclearlydeterminedbylawand
iftheresponsibilityofallthefunctionariesisnotsecured.
25.Thesovereigntyresidesinthepeople;itisoneandindivisible,imprescriptible,and
inalienable.
26.Noportionofthepeoplecanexercisethepoweroftheentirepeople,buteachsection
ofthesovereign,inassembly,oughttoenjoytherighttoexpressitswillwithentire
freedom.
27.Letanypersonwhomayusurpthesovereigntybeinstantlyputtodeathbyfreemen.
28.Apeoplehasalwaystherighttoreview,toreform,andtoalteritsconstitution.One
generationcannotsubjecttoitslawthefuturegenerations.
29.Eachcitizenhasanequalrighttoparticipateintheformationofthelawandinthe
selectionofhismandatoriesorhisagents.
30.Publicfunctionsarenecessarilytemporary;theycannotbeconsideredasdistinctions
orrewards,butasduties.
31.Theoffensesoftherepresentativesofthepeopleandofitsagentsoughtnevertogo
unpunished.Noonehastherighttoclaimforhimselfmoreinviolabilitythanother
citizens.
32.Therighttopresentpetitionstothedepositoriesofthepublicauthoritycannotinany
casebeforbidden,suspended,norlimited.
33.Resistancetooppressionistheconsequenceoftheotherrightsofman.

34.Thereisoppressionagainstthesocialbodywhenasingleoneofitsmembersis
oppressed:thereisoppressionagainsteachmemberwhenthesocialbodyisoppressed.
35.Whenthegovernmentviolatestherightsofthepeople,insurrectionisforthepeople
andforeachportionofthepeoplethemostsacredofrightsandthemostindispensableof
duties.