Deputy (1871–80)
Grévy was elected Representative for Doubs in the National Assembly on 8 February 1871.
He won by 36,910 votes out of 53,134.
He sat with the Opportunist Republican parliamentary group, Gauche républicaine, of which he became president.
He supported the government of Adolphe Thiers and took part in several important debates.
He was rapporter of the law on apportionment of compensation for acts of war, the commission of inquiry into Bonapartist actions (Girerd Affair), draft law on the press and the raising on the state of siege.
He tried to pull together the various left-wing minority factions to work together on passing the constitutional laws.
He opposed the government of 24 May 1873, and spoke against the septennat, state of siege, law on mayors and the ministry of Albert de Broglie.
Grévy was elected Deputy for Doubs on 20 February 1876.
He ran for the first district of Besançon and won 6,985 out of 9,095 votes.
He was again president of the Republican left.
He handed over this position to M. Leblond on 24 January 1877 but remained a member of the executive committee of the group.
In 1877 he was vice-chairman of the budget committee.
After the 16 May 1877 crisis he was one of the 363 opponents of the Fourtou–De Broglie ministry.
Grévy was reelected on 14 October 1877, holding office until 15 March 1880.
He won 8,282 votes against 1,579 votes for the official candidate and monarchist M. Boysson d'Ecole.
He was appointed a member of the Commission of Inquiry into the election and voted for invalidation of the elections of several deputies of the right.
He supported the Dufaure cabinet and spoke in favour of the Jules Ferry laws on education.