Atthefirstsessionthemembersofthenobilityandtheclergywerecovered，accordingtotheprerogativesoftheirclass，beforetheking。ThoseoftheThirdEstatewishedtoimitatethem，buttheprivilegedmembersprotested。Onthefollowingdaymoreprotestsofwoundedself—lovewereheard。ThedeputiesoftheThirdEstateinvitedthoseofthenobilityandtheclergywhoweresittinginseparatehallstojointhemfortheverificationoftheirpowers。Thenoblesrefused。Thenegotiationslastedmorethanamonth。Finally，thedeputiesoftheThirdEstate，onthepropositionoftheAbbeSieyes，consideringthattheyrepresented95percent。ofthenation，declaredthemselvesconstitutedasaNationalAssembly。FromthatmomenttheRevolutionpursueditscourse。
3。TheConstituentAssembly。
Thepowerofapoliticalassemblyresides，aboveall，intheweaknessofitsadversaries。Astonishedbytheslightresistanceencountered，andcarriedawaybytheascendancyofahandfuloforators，theConstituentAssembly，fromitsearliestsessions，spokeandactedasasovereignbody。Notablyitarrogatedtoitselfthepowerofdecreeingimposts，aseriousencroachmentupontheprerogativesoftheroyalpower。
TheresistanceofLouisXVI。wasfeebleenough。HesimplyhadthehallinwhichtheStatesassembledclosed。Thedeputiesthenmetinthehallofthetennis—court，andtooktheoaththattheywouldnotseparateuntiltheConstitutionofthekingdomwasanestablishedfact。
Themajorityofthedeputiesoftheclergywentwiththem。ThekingrevokedthedecisionoftheAssembly，andorderedthedeputiestoretire。TheMarquisdeDreux—Breze，theGrandMasterofCeremonies，havinginvitedthemtoobeytheorderofthesovereign，thePresidentoftheAssemblydeclared``thatthenationassembledcannotreceiveorders，’’andMirabeaurepliedtotheenvoyofthesovereignthat，beingunitedbythewillofthepeople，theAssemblywouldonlywithdrawatthepointofthebayonet。Againthekinggaveway。