Founding of the French Second Republic and Election of Louis-Napoléon

Background. Following the February 1848 revolution, the July Monarchy was replaced by a constitutional republic. The new constitution, proclaiming a democratic republic, direct universal suffrage, and the separation of powers, was promulgated on 4 November 1848. This legal framework ended the state of temporary government and established the Second French Republic, setting the stage for the first presidential elections in France.

Election of Louis-Napoléon. Louis-Napoléon Bonaparte, previously unknown or despised, advanced in public estimation to become a popular anti-establishment figure. He was elected as the first president of the Second Republic in the elections held on 10 and 11 December 1848. This victory reflected the political power of the Bonaparte name and the support of the uneducated masses added to the electorate.

Prince-President: Residence and Style. After his election, Louis-Napoléon moved his residence to the Élysée Palace at the end of December 1848, where he displayed portraits of his mother and of Napoleon I in his coronation robes. He adopted the title of Prince-President, styled 'His Imperial Highness, the Prince-President of the French Republic'. The title 'Napoleon III' is anachronistic for this period.

Constitutional Framework. The Constitution of 1848, passed by the National Assembly on 4 November 1848, defined the structure of the Second Republic. It established direct universal suffrage and the separation of powers. Although the constitution was later repealed in 1852, it served as the foundational legal document for the initial phase of the republic, including the election and inauguration of Louis-Napoléon.