The goal was to pursue the reforms which Thiers had envisioned but that weren't previously possible; however, it placed the government in a minority in the National Assembly.

Indeed, even after the complementary elections of 2 July 1871, which saw an increase of seats for the Opportunists and their Liberal allies, royalists still outnumbered them.

One particularity of the cabinet is the separation of the portfolio of Public Instruction and Worship into two distinct ministries, divisions which would be quickly erased during the following administrations.

[1] Thiers and Dufaure presented to the Assembly a project on the organization of the powers for the republic.

This project was meant to bring bicameralism, the responsibility of the government to the parliament and the right of dissolution in the political system of France.