al of the district,
established by law of December 22, 1789, and extinguished by the
constitution of 1795. The sub-prefect served as a local deputy of the
prefect, and one of his principal duties was to assist in the (p. 344)
continuous and close supervision of the affairs of the communes within
his jurisdiction.[509]

[Footnote 507: Anderson, Constitutions, 233-236.
The canton, suppressed by law of June 26, 1793, was
now revived.]

[Footnote 508: The number of communes was reduced
at this time from 44,000 to 36,000.]

[Footnote 509: Anderson, Constitutions, 283-288. G.
Alix, Les origines du systeme administratif
francais, in _Annales des Sciences Politiques_,
July-Nov., 1899.]

*378. From Napoleon to the Third Republic.*--The Napoleonic
administrative system--simple, symmetrical, bureaucratic, and
absolutely centralized--has persisted in France, in a large measure,
to the present day.[510] The most important modifications that have
been introduced in it are those which have arisen from a cautious
revival of the elective principle in the constitution of the various
local governmental bodies. The fall of Napoleon brought no change of
consequence, and none ensued until after the revolution of 1830. In
the days of the Orleanist monarchy, however, the rigor of the
Napoleonic system was in some measure relaxed. A law of 1831 made the
municipal council elective, one of 1833 did the same thing for the
councils of the department and the arrondissement, and both measures
established a fairly liberal arrangement in respect to the local
franchise. In 1838 the powers of the two councils were materially
increased.[511]

[Footnote 510: Its influence upon the
administrative systems of other countries--Belgium,
Italy, Spain, and even Greece, Japan, and various
Latin American states--has been profound. "Judged
by its qualities of permanence and by its influence
abroad, the law of 1800 is one of the best examples
of Bonaparte's creative statesmanship, taking rank
with the Code and with the Concordat among his
enduring non-military achievements. If, in the
nineteenth centu