GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 



Abyssinia. The system of government 

 is monarchical, and each large province is under 

 a Ras or feudal chief, the more important of 

 whom form a Council of State, while under them 

 are the governors of districts and the chiefs of 

 villains. In October, 1907, a decree was issued 

 announcing the formation of a cabinet on Euro- 

 pean lines, and ministers of justice, finance, corn- 

 war, and foreign affairs were appointed. 

 Karl i lias has a standing force as garrison and at 

 call in case of war, and a considerable number of 

 retainers not embodied. The forces united are 

 estimated at 100,000 men. 



\f ^haiii Ma 11. The government of Af- 

 ghanistan is monarchical under one hereditary 

 prince, called the Ameer, whose power varies 

 with his own character and fortune. The domin- 

 ions are politically divided into the four prov- 

 inces of Kabul, Turkistan, Herat, and Kandahar, 

 Badakhshan being now under Turkistan. Each 

 province is under a Mkim or governor (called 

 Vdi6), under whom nobles dispense justice after 

 a feudal fashion. Spoliation, exaction, and 

 embezzlement are almost universal. The Ameer 

 has a subsidy of eighteen lakhs (120,000) per 

 annum from the Indian Government. By the 

 treaty of 1893, confirmed in 1905, the Ameer 

 accepts the advice of the British Government in 

 regard to his relations with foreign powers, and 

 is guaranteed against unprovoked aggression 

 on his dominions. A standing army is main- 

 tained, and service is obligatory, but rests 

 lightly upon the population, about one man in 

 eight 'being called upon to serve. The army 

 comprises about 27,000 infantry, 7,000 cavalry, 

 and a strong force of artillery, apart from the 

 irregulars, who number some 25,000 mounted 

 men and a smaller force of infantry, capable of 



increased on a war footing to 80,000 



'00 foot. 



Alabama was organized as a Territory in 



1817, and admitted into the Union as a State in 



: stature consists of a Senate of 



nve meml>ers and a House of Representa- 

 tives of sixty-seven members; all the legislators 

 IT four years. The chief CXCCU- 



:;cer of the State is the governor, 

 for four years. He is Commander-in-chief of the 

 militia, has a limited veto in le^'i-laMon, and 



os the powers usually entrusted to State 

 governors. Other elective officers are tin- lieu 



governor, auditor, attorney-general, treas- 

 iMM-rintendent of education. 



Mwentlne Republic. The Con-titu- 



tion of the Argentine Republic bears date May 



15, 1853, with modifications in 1*62. By its 



ins, tin executive power is left to a presi- 



et.-d for i\ years by representatives of 



irteen provinces, equal to double the num 



senators and deputies combined; while 



the legislative authority is vested in a national 



sa, consisting of a senate and a house of 



he former numbering thirt 

 he capital and from each province, elected 



by a special body of electors in the capital, and 

 by the legislatures in the provinces; and the 

 latter, 120 members elected by the people. By 

 the constitution there should be one deputy for 

 every 33,000 inhabitants. A deputy must be 

 25 years of age, and have been a citizen for four 

 years. The deputies are elected for four years, 

 but one-half of the house must retire every two 

 years. Senators must be 30 years of age, have 

 been citizens for six years. One-third of the 

 senate is renewed every three years. The two 

 chambers meet annually from May 1st to Sep- 

 tember 30th. The members of both the senate 

 and the house of deputies are paid for their 

 services, each receiving 12,000 pesos per annum 

 (about 1,060 lire). A vice-president, elected in 

 the same manner and at the same time as the 

 president, fills the office of chairman of the 

 senate, but .has otherwise no political power. 

 The president is commander-in-chief of the 

 troops, and appoints to all civil, military, and 

 judicial offices, and has the right of presentation 

 to bishoprics; he is responsible with the ministry 

 for the acts of the executive; both president 

 and vice-president must be Roman Catholics. 

 Argentine by birth, and cannot be re-elected. 



Arizona was organized as a Territory in 

 1863. Legislative authority is vested in a Leg- 

 islative Assembly consisting of a council of 

 twelve and a House of Representati ves of twenty- 

 four members elected by the people for two years. 

 Acts are passed as in the States, but are subject 

 to limitations by Congress. The Territory is 

 represented in the Federal House of Representa- 

 tives by a delegate who is elected every two years 

 by the people, and exercises all functions of a 

 representative except that of voting. The 

 executive authority is vested in a governor 

 appointed for four years, with the advice and 

 consent of the Tinted States Senate. l.y the 

 President. He is eommander-in-chief o*f the 

 militia. He has a veto in legislation but its 

 exercise may be overridden l>y a t wo- thirds vote 

 of both houses. He has the 'p ;mmon 



extra sessions of the Legislature, hut his reasons 

 for doing so must first have l.een s U l>mitted to 

 and approved l.y the President. The IV. 

 appoints the .secretary of state who. in rase of the 

 governor's alienee or disi pialilicat ion, takes the 

 place of acting governor. (Mher official.* arc 

 auditor Moral, and super- 



intendent of public* instruction. 



ArkaiiNiis. The Constitution of is.'Wwas 

 folloued l.y those of 1864, 1868, and 1871 the 



ned'. amended live times from 1886 to 

 1902. is still in force. Amendments 

 in either house of the Legislature, aj 



majority of the members of each house and '_ 

 MI: at the said election" in the 

 prescribed manner, became part of the Const it u 

 tion. Legislative power is vested in the < > 

 . \sseml. 1\ . i Senate of th; 



rs, elected for four years, part tally re- 

 newed every two years, and a House of i 



