124 LEGISLATIVE PEERS. 



Ancient lordships,) and lastly, of persons whom the king may appoint 

 for life or for services rendered the state. 



The hereditary right can only be transmitted to such persons as 

 are in the full enjoyment of civil and political rights, and hold a pro- 

 perty either by feudal tenure, or in "Jidei commissum," paying taxes 

 at least to the amount of 300 florins. The number of senators ap- 

 pointed for life, must not exceed one-third of the hereditary sena- 

 tors. Every legislative measure may originate with the upper 

 chamber saving those relative to matters of finance. The States are 

 convoked at least once in three years. To this constitution is an- 

 nexed a constitutive edict of the nobility, which insures to them the 

 right of privileged jurisdiction, of establishing a family "Jidei com- 

 mission," and of' electing the eighth part of the deputies in the second 

 chamber. 



In Wurtemberg, by the constitution of 1819, the House of Lords 

 is composed of the princes of the royal family, the heads of the fami- 

 lies of princes and counts, and the representatives of nobles to whose 

 possessions is attached a vote in the Diet of the Empire or Circle ; 

 lastly, of the members appointed by the king either hereditary or for 

 life. As to the hereditary members, the king can select them only 

 from the nobles of the class of barons and knights who possess a pro- 

 perty in the kingdom, transmitted to them by the law of primogeni- 

 ture, yielding an annual revenue of 6,000 florins. The members for 

 life may be chosen from among the citizens without regard either to 

 fortune or birth j but the number of members appointed by the king, 

 either hereditary or for life, must not exceed one-third the members 

 of the chamber. While in session the princes of the blood occupy 

 the first place, after them come the barons, who occupy places deter- 

 mined among themselves, the others take their seats according to the 

 dates of their patents. Every legislative measure, with the exception 

 of those relating to taxation, may be first brought forward in the 

 Upper House. No member can be arrested during the session, ex- 

 cept for high crimes and misdemeanors. They are all eligible to 

 form a part of the High Court composed of twelve judges, six of 

 whom are chosen by the king from among the magistracy, and six 

 are chosen by the States from their own body. To these constitutive 

 dispositions of the Upper House, are added other articles which regu- 

 late the rights of the possessors of feudal domains, and insure to 

 them the privilege of electing thirteen members of the Lower House, 

 and the right of voting in each of the circles in which they possess 

 fiefs. 



In the Grand Duchy of Baden, by the constitution of 1818, the 

 first chamber is composed of princes of the ducal family, of the heads 

 of families, styled par excellence,* " of the state," of two ecclesiastical 

 dignitaries, of two deputies from the universities, of eight deputies 

 of the nobility, and lastly, of the members whom it may please the 

 king to call up to it without distinction of birth or fortune. In this 

 little state, therefore, there are three classes of nobility who enjoy 



* Mediatised princes. 





