■21-1 MODE OF GOVEEXMEXT. 



POWERS OF THK GOVKKNOK. 



The Governor wlio is also Coiuniauder-iu-Chief iu and over 

 the Colony ami its (lependencies, has the jjower, in the Queen's 

 name, to commute the sentenj?e of a court of justice; to summon, 

 xjpen, jirorogue and on occasions dissolve the local Parliament ; 

 to give or -withliold assent to, or reserve for tlie Eoyal considera- 

 tion all hills -which liave passed ]yjt]i Chambers. 



THE EEGISIiATURE. 



The Legislature must meet once a year, and is usually sum- 

 moned "for the despatch of business" in the mouth of February. 

 Thus the Colony is jsractically self-governing. Its history shows 

 the steady growth of government Ijy the people. The electors, 

 in reality, govern the country, as they choose the meml^ers of 

 the Assembly who by their votes maintain in office or overthrow 

 the Government of the day. Xewfoundland, like England, en- 

 joys " Responsil)le Government;" that is, each government is 

 resjxmsible to the people, through the members of the Legislature 

 tliey elect, to carry out tiieir wislies. 



SUPREME COURT. 



The Sui^reme Court was instituted in 1826 by the promulga- 

 tion of a Royal Charter. To it and to magistrates Ijelong the 

 correct interpretation and proper enforcement of the laws of the 

 lountry. It is composed of a Chief Justice and two Assistant 

 Judges. It holds tv.o terms or sessions each year, on the 20th of 

 May, and the 20th of November. There are circuits of the 

 Supreme Court lield in the northern, southern and western dis- 

 tricts of the island, at such times and jilaces as may be fixed by 

 the jiroclamatiou of the Governoi'. These are presided over by 

 (]!hief Justice or one of the Assistant Judges, in rotation. The 

 .'^alary of the Chief Justice is ^5,000 ; of each Assistant Judge, 

 $4,000. They hold their appointments for life. 



COURT or LAKRADOK. 



The Court of Labrador has civil and criminal jurisiliction over 

 such parts of Labrador as lie' within the jurisdiction of New- 



