The complexity of much of the mechanism, especially that relating to popular election and the legislature, entirely suited Bonaparte.  But, while approving the triple winnowing, to which Sieyes subjected the results of manhood suffrage, and the subordination of the legislative to the executive authority,[132] the general expressed his entire disapproval of the limitations of the Grand Elector’s powers.  The name was anti-republican:  let it be changed to First Consul.  And whereas Sieyes condemned his grand functionary to the repose of a roi faineant, Bonaparte secured to him practically all the powers assigned by Sieyes to the Consuls for Peace and for War.  Lastly, Bonaparte protested against the right of absorbing him being given to the Senate.  Here also he was successful; and thus a delicately poised bureaucracy was turned into an almost unlimited dictatorship.

This metamorphosis may well excite wonder.  But, in truth, Sieyes and his colleagues were too weary and sceptical to oppose the one “intensely practical man.”  To Bonaparte’s trenchant reasons and incisive tones the theorist could only reply by a scornful silence broken by a few bitter retorts.  To the irresistible power of the general he could only oppose the subtlety of a student.  And, indeed, who can picture Bonaparte, the greatest warrior of the age, delegating the control of all warlike operations to a Consul for War while Austrian cannon were thundering in the county of Nice and British cruisers were insulting the French coasts?  It was inevitable that the reposeful Grand Elector should be transformed into the omnipotent First Consul, and that these powers should be wielded by Bonaparte himself.[133]

The extent of the First Consul’s powers, as finally settled by the joint commission, was as follows.  He had the direct and sole nomination of the members of the general administration, of those of the departmental and municipal councils, and of the administrators, afterwards called prefects and sub-prefects.  He also appointed all military and naval officers, ambassadors and agents sent to foreign Powers, and the judges in civil and criminal suits, except the juges de paix and, later on, the members of the Cour de Cassation.  He therefore controlled the army, navy, and diplomatic service, as well as the general administration.  He also signed treaties, though these might be discussed, and must be ratified, by the legislative bodies.  The three Consuls were to reside in the Tuileries palace; but, apart from the enjoyment of 150,000 francs a year, and occasional consultation by the First Consul, the position of these officials was so awkward that Bonaparte frankly remarked to Roederer that it would have been better to call them Grand Councillors.  They were, in truth, supernumeraries added to the chief of the State, as a concession to the spirit of equality and as a blind to hide the reality of the new despotism.  All three were to be chosen for ten years, and were re-eligible.