STATES

representative government of France dates back to time of Philippe le Bel (1268-1314), contemporary of Edward I. of England, with whose Model Parliament of 1295 Philip’s A embly of 1302 may be compared. It is both stated and denied that preceding Fr. court of peers or great council was merely consultative, and that A embly of 1302 was also deliberative, but a great change in 1302 was the introduction of the Third Estate; large towns were always summoned henceforth to make election of representatives, proeureurs; country districts divided into baillages for purposes of representation; the peers and prelates mignt also appear by procureurs. The States - General controlled taxation in XIV. cent., but chief sources of revenue were appropriated to Crown in XV. cent.; attempt of Estates to regain control, 1484, came to nothing; not summoned again till 1560; di olved, 1614, and not summoned again till year 1789; transformed into National Constituent A embly; never po e ed statutory powers.