The 1798 elections were partially invalidated by the passage of the Law of 22 Floréal Year VI which saw 106 Montagnards lose their seats by decree of the Council of Five Hundred.

After the Coup of 18 Fructidor Year V, which saw the union of pro-Republican French parties (The Mountain, Jacobins, and Thermidorians), faced with the threat of a bourbon restoration, the reconstitution of the 'clubs' is authorised.

[1] In order to prevent further monarchist gains, the new 'coup assembly' organised several laws by working with the Council of Ancients which would see a reduction of the royalist supporters.

In the councils, out of a total of 807 representatives, the groups are now distributed as follows: 387 directorials (107 more and a gain of 38% compared to Year V), 175 Jacobins (105 more) and 245 independents or undetermined.

The Directory retains a majority of around 400 deputies in the councils, but the threat of another defeat in the 1799 elections makes the results unacceptable.