Ancien Régime:
- Three Estates: French society was divided into three estates: the First Estate (Clergy), the Second Estate (Nobility), and the Third Estate (common people).
- No Universal Suffrage: Only the members of the First and Second Estates had the privilege to vote in their local estates assemblies. The Third Estate was largely excluded from the political process.
- Limited Representation: The Estates-General, a consultative body representing the Three Estates, met irregularly, and its role was primarily advisory.
- Restricted Franchise: The right to vote was based on social status, wealth, and privileges. Only men of noble birth, high-ranking clergy members, and some members of the Third Estate who met specific property or income requirements were eligible to vote.
- Indirect Elections: For the Estates-General, electors from various social groups in each province selected delegates to represent their region at the Estates-General meetings.
- Influence of the Nobility and Clergy: The First and Second Estates had disproportionate influence in the Estates-General, often overriding the interests and opinions of the Third Estate.
The limited representation and restricted suffrage resulted in a political system that was dominated by the privileged classes and did not adequately represent the interests of the majority of the population. This, among other factors, contributed to the growing dissatisfaction and the demands for political reforms that culminated in the French Revolution in 1789.