The Charleston daily news. [volume] (Charleston, S.C.) 1865-1873, 1871-05-24
The New German Empire.

So suddenly has the great German Empire
sprung up, and taken a foremost place
among the Powers of the earth, that few on
this side of the Atlantic have yet been able
to obtain any definite or precise information
as to tae plan of organization OF the new
Nation Yet 80 interesting aud important
is the theme that the readers OF The NEWS
cannot fail to welcome description OF the
machinery which the fortune OF war and the
genius of Bismarck have set in motion for
the consolidation and government of united
Germany.
What may be called the Parliament OF the
Empire consists OF the Bundcsrath and the
Reichstag; these two bodies bearing GER
tain resemblance to the Upper and Lower
Houses of Congress- but having closer
similarity to the English House of Lords and
House Of Commons The Relchstag repre-
sents tae collective people Of the German
Empire; its 3s2 members being apportioned
according to the population and elected for
three years. It's composition may be in
ferred from glance at the statistics of the
present body, which show three princes, a
duke six minor princes, sixty-slx counts or
nobleman, large number of local. officials
from the grade OF burgomeisters up, twelve
clergymen and bishop, forty-four members
of the judiciary, eighteen lawyers, eighteen
professors, twenty merchants and manufac-
turers, one apothecary, one lathe worker,
nine authors and editors, six physicians,
fourteen schoolmasters, &C. Offce-holders
are eligible to seat in the Reichstag but if
the person, after election, accepts higher
office under either the State or Empire, he
must stand new election or be disqualified.
All merabers are protected from arrest and
from responsibility to other parties for their
legislative action. The Reichstag decides
upon the eligibility of its own members and.
manages the contested election business in
curious but efectual way. The presiding
officer divides the house into seven parts,
cath of which is required to examine and
report upon the cases coming within its
own jurisdiction. This smplities the work
and prevents unnecessary delay in the final
action. AS the contingency may arise when
there are sufficient number of contested
seats to change the balance OF power, the
presiding officer Of new Reichstag only
holds the place four weeks, at the expiration
of which time another chairman. or speaker
is chosen who remains the rest Of the ses-
zion. The Reichstag has the right to en-
act laws, and also to lay before the Bundles
rath ard Bundes-chsncellor Whist are termed
snterpeations, which the latter is obliged
to appear and answer to. The Reichstag is
convened, adjourned and prorogued by the
Executive, but The prorogation requires the
consent of the Bundesrath; and when order
ed within the three years for which the men,
bers are chosen, q new election must be had
within sixty, and o new session called with
in ninety days. 1t cannot be adjourned
against its own consent but once during the
SAME session, and then for no longer period
than thirty days. The members receive no
pay whatever for their services.
The Buudesrath has lfty-eiSht members,
who are chosen BY the respective govern
ments which they represent. Prussia sends
seventeen, Bavaria six, SaXony four, Wur-
temberg four, Baden three, and the rest of
the Suites average one each. Fourteen neg
ative votes are sufficient tt. defeat any con-
stitutional amendment and as Bavaria,
WurtemIrerg and Saxony together hold that
number, they can prevent any infringement
of their rights by change of the organic
law. The members OF the Bundesrath are
really plenipotentiaries and not delegates,
voting; always on important questions in
strict accordance with instructions from
their aeveral governments. This body, then,
is intensely aristocratic aud conservative,
representing the different States Of the En-
pire rather than the Empire itself. 1t is
essentially the law proposing power, its chief
function being the preparation OF laws which
the F,echstag is expected to enact. 1t is,
also, 10 limited extent, a cabinet; having
authority to provide regulations for the en-
forcerlent of the statutes of the Empire,
whenever said regulations are not set forth
in the laws themselves. For this purpose it
has seven standing committees which attend
to the army and fortresses, the marine, tariff
and taxation, trade and commerce, rail
roads ports and lelegraphs, administrator
of justice, and appropriate rs. BY pro-
vision OF the constitution. Bavaria is always
TO have Il seat in the committee on the army;
and IN the special committee on foreign
affairs, Bavaria has the chairman and Pru5-
sin is Gut represented ut all. Tie Bundles
rath has concurrent voice with the Reich
stag in the passage OF all laws, a majority of
votes inSach house being able to enact. Its
sessions are private but the members are
expected, whenever necessary, to meet with
the Reichstag and discuss ana explain any
bill Which may be before the lower house,
and guard The interests of the different
States. There is no special provision for the
election of the melncers of the Bundesrath,
or the duration of their term of office; these
matters being left entirely to the States
which send them.
The executive branch OF the government
le, Of course The Emperor whose Office iS |