referendum A referendum, plebiscite, or ballot measure is a Direct democracy, direct vote by the Constituency, electorate (rather than their Representative democracy, representatives) on a proposal, law, or political issue. A referendum may be either bin ...

concerning the establishment of the French Empire was held in France in June 1804.Frankreich, ??. Juni 1804 : Napoleon als erblicher Kaiser
Database and Search Engine for Direct Democracy The result showed a virtually unanimous French electorate approving the change in

Napoleon Bonaparte Napoleon Bonaparte (born Napoleone di Buonaparte; 15 August 1769 – 5 May 1821), later known by his regnal name Napoleon I, was a French general and statesman who rose to prominence during the French Revolution and led Military career ...

's status from

First Consul The Consulate () was the top-level government of the First French Republic from the fall of the Directory in the coup of 18 Brumaire on 9 November 1799 until the start of the French Empire on 18 May 1804. During this period, Napoleon Bonap ...

Emperor of the French Emperor of the French ( French: ''Empereur des Français'') was the title of the monarch and supreme ruler of the First French Empire and the Second French Empire. The emperor of France was an absolute monarch. Details After rising to power by ...

, although the votes are assumed to have been manipulated.

Background

The plebiscite, provided for by article 142 of the ''

Sénatus-consulte A (French language, French translation of ) was a feature of French law during the French Consulate (1799–1804), First French Empire (1804–1814, 1815) and Second French Empire (1852–1870). Consulate and First Empire It was an act voted ...

'', relates to the question of the imperial succession as defined in the Constitution of 1804, which established the First Empire. The vote was public, permitting neither blank votes nor invalid ones.

Results

The counting of the votes ended in 2 August and the results were announced in 6 November. A coronation ceremony was held a month later, on 2 December.

References

{{French elections 1804 in France Referendums in France 1804 referendums Napoleon Constitutional referendums in France November 1804