Cisalpine Republic: Encyclopedia II - Cisalpine Republic - Institutional form

Cisalpine Republic - Institutional form

The institutions of the new republic were much similar to those of France. The territory was divided in departments, which elected the judges of peace, the magistrates and the electors, one every 200 people having right of vote. The latter elected two councils: the Seniori ("Elders") and the Giuniori ("Youngers"). The first was composed by forty to sixty members, and approved the laws and variations to the Constitutional Chart. The second had from eighty to one hundred twenty members, and proposed the laws. Both councils discussed treaties, the choice of a Directory and the determination of tributes. The legislative corps included men like Pietro Verri, Giuseppe Parini and the scientist Alessandro Volta.

The Directory included five ministers and represented the executive power: leaders were local politicians like Gian Galeazzo Serbelloni (first president) and Francesco Melzi d'Erzil. The supreme authority, however, was the commander of the French troops.

The republic also adopted the new French calendary era.

On July 7, 1797, the new constitution was promulgated, inspired by the French republican one.

Adapted from the Wikipedia article "Institutional form", under the G.N U Free Docmentation License. Please also see http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki