PRUDHOMMES, Conseils de, de prfi-dom, courts of conciliation in France for deciding small disputes between workmen and employers. The first councils called by this name in Paris were formed in 1296 in the reign of Philippe le Bel, when 24 prud'hommes were appointed to assist the provost of the mer chants in settling disputes between merchants and manufacturers at the fairs and markets. After the Revolution of 1848, at which period 75 towns had conseils de prud'hommes, the whole legislation on this subject was revised. All the patrons and workers of industrial establish ments within the circle of jurisdiction of the council of prud'hommes were made eligible as electors. In June 1853 a law was passed which, with some modifications, is still in force. The patrons and the workmen are formed into sep arate electoral colleges, each to elect an equal number of prud'hommes. Qualifications for election are a minimum age of 30 years, ability to read and write and citizenship. The office used to be honorary, but compensation, vary ing locally, is now permitted by law. The gen
eral conseil, besides the president, vice-president and secretary, is composed of an equal number of patrons and workers, with a minimum mem bership of six. They are elected for six years, one-half of the membership being renewed every three years. The jurisdiction of the con seils is summary and without appeal for sums under 200 francs; above that sum an appeal lies to the tribunals of commerce. The presi dents and vice-presidents of the conseils de prud'hommes are elected by the conseils for one year, one being a patron and the other a work man. The number of conseils de prud'hommes is now about 225. Consult Block, it, and Chau mel, H., Theorique et Pratique des Con seils de Prud'hommes' (Paris 1912) ; Block, M., 'Dictionnaire de l'Administration Fran cais& (Vol. II, Paris 1905) ; Cluzel, G., Pratique des Conseils de Prud' bommes) (Paris 1908); Thomas, E., 'Les Con seils de Prud'hommes, leur Histoire, leur Or ganisation' (Paris 1888).