earlier French practice, the exercise of constituent and of ordinary
legislative powers is thus lodged in the same body of men, the only
difference of procedure in the two instances arising from the
temporary amalgamation of the chambers for constituent purposes. The
sole limitation that has been imposed upon the revising powers of the
Assembly is contained in a clause adopted in an amendment of August
14, 1884, which forbids that the republican style of government be
made the subject of a proposed revision. In point of fact, amendments
have been few, although some, as that of December 9, 1884, modifying
the methods of electing senators and those of June 16, 1885, and
February 13 and July 17, 1889, re-establishing single districts for
the election of deputies and prohibiting multiple candidatures, have
been of a high degree of importance.

[Footnote 462: Art. 8. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
I., 288.]

CHAPTER XVI (p. 308)

THE PRESIDENT, THE MINISTRY, AND PARLIAMENT

I. THE PRESIDENT

Under the French system of government functions of a purely executive
nature are vested in the President of the Republic and the Ministry,
assisted by a numerous and highly centralized body of administrative
officials. The presidency had its origin in the unsettled period
following the Prussian war when it was commonly believed that
monarchy, in one form or another, would eventually be re-established.
The title "President of the Republic" was created in 1871; but the
office as it exists to-day hardly antedates the election of Marshal
MacMahon in 1873. The character and functions of the presidency were
determined in no small measure by the circumstance that by those who
created the dignity it was intended merely to keep the French people
accustomed to visible personal supremacy, and so to make easier the
future transition to a monarchical system. Counting Thiers, the
Republic has had thus far nine presidents: Adolphe Thiers, 1871-1873;
Marshal MacMahon, 1873-1879; Jules Grevy, 1879-1887; F. Sadi-Carnot,
1887-1894; Casimir-Perier, June, 1894, to January, 1895; Felix Faure,
1895-1899; Emile Loubet, 1899-1906; Armand Fallieres, 1906-1913; and
Raymond Poincare elected early in 1913.

*332. Election and Qualifications.*--The President is chosen for seven
years by an electoral college consisting of the members of the Senate
and of the Chamb