In May 1880, Benjamin Raspail, a member of the National Assembly for Paris, introduced a bill making 14 July the day of the annual national holiday. After passage by Parliament, the law was promulgated on July 6, 1880, a few days before the first celebration. The day of the celebration is declared non-working day, to make it an identical day throughout the national territory, the day being organized around two main elements: a military parade and popular festivities.