The Placer herald., 1871-02-04
NUMBER "a.
The Kingdom ef Prussia.

Prussia is . Constitutional Monarchy.
hereditary in the male line Of the Hoheu-
zollerns The Constitution granted BY King
Frederick William Nv. in consequence Of tho
revolutionary occurrences Of 1848, beam
date January 31st, 1850, but has been con-
siderably modified by nine royal DEGREES,
made between 1850 and 1857. The Exec
utivc and part Of the Legislative authority
is vested in the King, who attains his ma
jjority on reaching the age Of eighteen. In.
the exercise of the Government the King il
assisted by Council Of Ministers appointed
and dismissed by royal decree. Tie Legis-
lative authority the King shares with rep
resentative assembly compased Of two cham
bers, the "Herrenhaus, or House Of Lords,
and the "Abgeordnetenhaus" or House Of
Deputies. The House Of Lords is composed
of the princes Of the royal family who are Of
age; the chiefs of sixteen 'nediatized' prince
ly houses; the heads Of the territorial nobil-
ity formed by the King and numbering about
fifty; eight life peers chosen by the King
among the rich land owners, great manufac-
turers and national celebrities; eight titled
noblemen elected in the eight provinces Of
Prussia by the resident land owners; repre-
sentatives Of the universities; the heads Of
the chapters; the burgomasters Of the towns
having about $4,000 inhaLitants. and an
unlimited number Of members nominated by
the King for life or for limited period. Tho
House Of Deputies consists Of 432 members.
$50 for the old kingdom and 81 for tue Prov
inces annexed in 1867. The legislative Pc
riod of the Chamber of Deputies is limited
for three years, and every Prussian is eligi-
bic to be member who is thirty years old,
who has not forfeited the enjoyment Of bis
full civil rights through judicial sentence,
and who has paid taxes during three years
to the State. Every Prussian 25 years old.
who is qualified to vote at the municipal
elections of his place or domcile, is qualified
to vote as an indirect elector, or 'Urwahler.'
The indirect electors choose direct elector
or "Wahman," who is selected from every
complete number of 25O souls. The repre-
sentatives in the Chamber of Deputies ara
chosen by the direct electors. The compep-
sation of 81 25 per day, which cannot bs
refused Every Prussian subject is enrolled
in the army on reaching the age Of twenty.
and serves three years in the regular army.
He is then transferred to the reserve fer four
years and in case Of war is liable to be call.
ed out in active duty. For the next nine
years he is enrolled in the "Landwehr" or
MALTA, and if the occasion arises he is liable
to be called upon for duty in that body
Even at the age Of fifty he d not exempt
from military duty, but is then enrolled in
the "Landsturm or "home guard" On y
peace footing. Prussian regiment consists
Of three battalions, numbering 518 each; in
war the batalions are increased to 1912 each.
Prussia proper contains "a ,O48, 296 inhabi-
tapts; the North German Confederation, in
cluding Prussia, 20, ,01O ,376; the population
Of the South German States is S,621, ,522:
making the total population Of all the coun-
tries under the military leadership Of King
William, IS, ,521 300. That Of france 10
38. 1872. .094.