The three legislative bodies lost practically all their powers, those of the _Corps Legislatif_ going to the Senate, those of the Council of State to an official Cabal formed out of it; while the Tribunate was forced to _debate secretly in five sections_, where, as Bonaparte observed, _they might jabber as they liked_.
On the other hand, the attributes of the Senate were signally enhanced.

It was thenceforth charged, not only with the preservation of the republican constitution, but with its interpretation in disputed points, and its completion wherever it should be found wanting.

Furthermore, by means of organic _senatus consulta_ it was empowered to make constitutions for the French colonies, or to suspend trial by jury for five years in any Department, or even to declare it outside the limits of the constitution.

It now gained the right of being consulted in regard to the ratification of treaties, previously enjoyed by the _Corps Legislatif._ Finally, it could dissolve the _Corps Legislatif_ and the Tribunate.

But this formidable machinery was kept under the strict control of the chief engineer: all these powers were set in motion on the initiative of the Government; and the proposals for its laws, or _senatus consulta,_ were discussed in the Cabal of the Council of State named by the First Consul.