 Napoleon became "first consul" for ten years, with two consuls appointed by him who had consultative voices only.His power was confirmed by the new "Constitution of the Year VIII", originally devised by Sieyès to give Napoleon a minor role, but rewritten by Napoleon, and accepted by direct popular vote (3,000,000 in favour, 1,567 opposed).The constitution preserved the appearance of a republic but in reality established a dictatorship.