How were the states-general in France organized?

The states-general of France came into being in 1302 as a replacement for an expanded royal council. This supreme representative body represented all estates of the state. French society was divided into three estates. The first estate is the clergy. The second estate is the aristocracy, the nobility. The third estate is the bourgeoisie, merchants, townspeople. Unlike the first two, the third estate is obliged to pay taxes. The states-general did not act constantly, but gathered at important and critical moments for the state by the decision of the king, to provide support to the government. During the work of the States General, each estate worked independently and separately from the rest, and had the right to one vote. There have been attempts by the states-general to get a function in governing the country, but they were unsuccessful.