GOVERNMENT AND POLITICS 



617 



naval forces of the State, except when these are 

 called into the actual service of the United States, 

 the summoning of the Legislature when necessary, 

 the granting of commissions, and the supervision 

 of the execution of the laws. Every bill passed 

 by both Houses requires the assent of the gov- 

 ernor, who may 'within ten days remit it for con- 

 sideration to the House in which it originated ; 

 if then the bill be approved by a two-thirds 

 majority of each House it becomes law. A lieu- 

 tenant-governor is chosen at the same time, in 

 the same manner, and for the same term as the 

 governor. A secretary of the commonwealth 

 and an attorney-general are appointed by the 

 governor, by and with the advice and consent of 

 two-thirds of all the members of the Senate, 

 d u ring pleasure, and a superintendent of public 



tion is similarly appointed for four years. 

 The qualified electors choose at each general 

 election a secretary of internal affairs for a period 

 of four years, an auditor-general for a period of 

 three years, and a state treasurer for a period of 

 two years. 



Persia. The form of government in Persia 

 up to the year 1906 was, in the most important 

 features, similar to that of Turkey. The Shah, 

 within the limitations imposed by the Moham- 

 medan religion, was an absolute ruler, generally 

 regarded by the people as the vice-gerent of the 

 Prophet. In 1905, nowever, the Persian people 

 demanded representative institutions, and in 

 January. 1906, the government announced that 



ih had given nis consent to the establish- 

 ment of a national council. Under the rescript 

 of August 5, 1906, it was decided that trie 

 national council should consist of and be elected 

 by members of the reigning dynasty, clergy, 

 chiefs, nobles, landowners, merchants, and 

 tradesmen. An ordinance of September 10, 

 1906, fixed the number of members at 156, and 

 early in October elections were held. On Octo- 

 ber l_'th, the national council (or as many of its 

 members as could be got together) met, chose 

 a president, and was welcomed by the shah, 

 whose speech was read before it. The constitu- 

 tion of January 1, 1907, signed by Muzaffer-ad- 

 din. the late shAh, and countersigned by the Vali 

 Ahd. the present shah, and by the grand vizier, 

 deals with the decree of August 5, 1906, and 

 states the powers and duties of the national 

 council, besides making provision for the regula- 

 ireneral procedure by the national 

 council iNelf. The number of members is at 

 present limited to 162, but may be raised to 200; 

 members will be elected for two years; will 

 meet annually, and will have immunity from 

 prosecution, except with the knowledge of the 

 national council. Tin- publicity of their pro- 

 ceedings (except under conditions accepted by 

 the national council) is secured. Ministers (or 

 delegates) may appear and speak in the 

 ii.itiMn.il council, anil wilt be responsible to that 

 body which will have special control of financial 



md internal administration. Its sanction 



\\ill be pMjiimd fa all territorial chan- 



to property, for the granting of 

 concessions for the contracting of loans, for the 

 iction of roads and railways, and for the 

 ratification of all treaties except such as in tin- 

 interest of the state require secrecy. There is to 



j be a senate of sixty members, of whom thirty 

 are to be appointed to represent the shah, and 



| thirty to be elected on behalf of the national 



| council, fifteen of each class being from Teheran, 

 and fifteen from the provinces. Provision is 



, made as to procedure in case of difference of 

 opinion between the national council and the 

 senate. The executive government is carried 

 on under a ministry, the chief departments 

 of which are: minister for war, minister for 

 foreign affairs, minister for finance and treasury. 

 and minister for interior. 



Peru. The present Constitution, proclaimed 

 October 16, 1856, was revised November L'.">. 



I 1860. The legislative power is vested in a 

 senate and a house of representatives. Both 



J senators and deputies are elected by a direct 

 vote. There are fifty-one senators and 116 

 deputies, and there are as many suplentes, or 

 substitutes, as there are members in each cham- 

 ber. Every two years one-third of the members 

 of each chamber, as decided by lot, retire. 



j Congress meets annually on July 28th, and sits 

 for ninety days only. It may be summoned as 

 often as necessary, but no extraordinary session 



| may last more than forty-five days. The execu- 

 tive power is entrusted to a president, elected for 



I four years, and not re-eligible till after another 



J four years. He receives $15,000 a year and 

 $9,000 for expenses. There are two vice-p: 

 dents, who take the place of the president only 

 in case of his death or incapacity, and they are 

 elected for four years. The vice-presidents 

 receive no salary as such. The president and 



| vice-presidents are elected by direct vote. The 

 president exercises his executive functions 

 through a cabinet of six ministers, holding office 

 at his pleasure. The ministers are those of the 

 interior, war and marine, foreign affairs, justice. 

 with worship and instruction, finance and public 

 works. Each minister receives $3,000 a year. 

 None of the president's acts have any value 



, without the signature of a minister. 



Portugal. The Constitution of 1826 

 (amended in 1852, 1885, and 1895), gives a 

 special moderating power to the king. There 

 are two legislative chamber-, the peers and 



! the deputies, collectively called the cortes. In 



|case of a disagreement between the two lrgi-la- 

 live chamber-, a committee of both decides, and 

 if the committee disagree, the king decides. 

 The chamber of : mi of ninety mem- 



bers nominated for life, in addition to the princes 

 of the blood, the twelve bishops of the conti- 

 nental dioceses, and fifty-two hereditary peers. 

 The chamber of dep' mem- 



bers elected under a system of universal suffrage 

 every four years, to the number of 1 .".">. of whom 

 seven are elected by Portuguese colonies. The 

 km- has no veto on a law twice passed by both 



Prussia. The present Constitution : 

 sia was drawn up by the government 

 rriedrieh \\ilhelm |'V.. with the co-operation 

 Mitueni a it ting August -Decem- 



ber. isl'.i. and was proclaimed January XI, 1850: 

 but subsequently modified hv a number 

 decrees. These'fnnda mental laws vest the exec- 

 utive and part of the legislative authority in a 

 king, who attains his majority upon accom- 



