of the old States of Holland was overthrown (the stadtholder, William V of Orange, had already resigned and fled to England). Organisation Each of the represented entities was entitled to four representatives, though sometimes less were sent. The assembly was made up of a number of standing committees that were responsible for tasks that were delegated to them. The primus interpares was the Comité van Algemeen Welzijn (Committee of General Welfare, which was clearly inspired by the French Committee of Public Safety). In a demonstration of constitutional continuity this committee worked according to the 1751 Instruction for the Gecommitteerde Raden (Executive) of the old States of Holland. The committees remained active until the newly elected National Assembly came into being in April 1796. Decrees The Provisional Representatives made a number of decrees that often were very consequential for the constitutional history of the Netherlands, even after several regime changes. A selection: Declaration of the Rights of Man and of the Citizen (31 January 1795) Emancipation of all religious denominations Abolition of the States of Holland, and the Ridderschap Abolition of the offices of Stadtholder, Captain-General of the States Army, Admiral-General of the Navy, and Grand Pensionary Declaration of popular sovereignty Universal suffrage for all male citizens Repeal of the Act of Guarantee and the Oath on the Constitution that accompanied it Abolition of the principle of instruction and obligatory consultation (last en ruggespraak) for members of the Provisional Representatives, and replacement of voting by constituency with roll-call voting Abolition of city rights Notes and references Notes References Sources Dagbladen van het verhandelde ter vergadering van de Provisionele Representanten van het volk van Holland. 4 dln. (The Hague, 1795-1796). Decreeten van de Provisioneele repræsentanten van het volk van Holland. 26 January 1795--2 Maart 1796 ('sLands drukkerij 1799) Kretzschmar, L.P.E., P.J. Margry en W.E. Meiboom, Archieven van de Gewestelijke Besturen in de Bataafs-Franse tijd, 1795-1807 en hiermee samenhangende commissies, 1782-1802. 's-Gravenhage, 1987. Onderzoeksgids Bestuur en administratie van de Bataafs Franse tijd 1795-1813, J. Roelevink, 2001 e.v. Schama, S. (1977), Patriots and Liberators. Revolution in the Netherlands 1780-1813, New York, Vintage books, De geëxtendeerde notulen, behelzende de decreeten van de vergadering der provisioneele representanten van het volk van Holland. Zints XXVI. jann. - XXVIII. febr. MDCCXCV Zoodsma, L., Archief van de Provisionele Representanten , 1795-1796 in: L.P.E. Kretzschmar, P.J. Margry en W.E. Meiboom, Archieven van de Gewestelijke Besturen in de Bataafs-Franse tijd, 1795-1807