Following the July Revolution which brought King Louis-Philippe to power, new election laws were passed on 19 April 1831.

Members were elected by first-past-the-post voting in 459 single-member constituencies.

Professionals and public servants could vote if they paid at least 100 francs in taxes.

Instead, they reflect groupings made by later historians based on the political opinions of the deputies.

Historians do not always agree on how to draw these lines: Thomas Beck gives a similar number for the pro-government representatives (273), but assigns far more of the opposition to the left (170), leaving only seven legitimists.