Changes to Municipal Legislation and a New Forestry Law

In a petition from Grevenmacher dated April 18, 1848, changes to municipal law are requested to strengthen local autonomy and end state supervision over municipalities. The constituent assembly passes a new municipal electoral law lowering the census requirement to 5 francs, in response to a "widely expressed wish." The municipal law of 1843 is fundamentally amended by the new chamber (law of October 23, 1848), restoring municipal autonomy and ensuring public deliberations. Historian Albert Calmes notes that "the cantonal oligarchies have outlived their usefulness." Following the French Revolution, the management of communal forests is transferred to a state forestry administration. The municipalities continuously protest against this loss of control. According to historian Albert Calmes, this situation leads to "deep irritation among municipal leaders and rural populations in general against the state forestry administration." Several petitions call for the adoption of a new forestry law granting municipalities free management of their forests. This goal is partially achieved by the new chamber with the passage of the law on November 14, 1849, which introduces the necessary coordination between state administration and municipalities.