Hopkinsville Kentuckian. [volume] (Hopkinsville, Ky.) 1889-1918, 1889-03-08
GOVERNMENT OF FRANCE.
How tho Affhirs OF tho French Republic
Are Administered.


Are Administered.
France. is what has been called "a
limited democracy, with aristocratic
nppondages." To fully understand It's
character we must remember that II is
united state, that Is, one In which
the national government has the re-
sponsibility OF looking after public
affairs all over the country. This dis
tinguishes II in many important par
ticulars from those countries which,
like our own, are fcderative, and the
power OF the central government is
limited by those OF included States.
or course, in France, there are local
authorities to look after local mat
ters, but this does not lessen the
power OF the central government
10 overrule any decision or action OF a
local body at its pleasure. The con-
stitutlon of the French Republic was
adopted February %, 1875. and re-
vised in August, 1884. by 1t the
Legislative power is vested in the
Chamber OF Deputies and the Senate,
and the executive in the President OF
the republic. Tho Deputies arc elect
cd by universal suffrage. under the
plan called "scrutin dc listo," adopted
by the National Assembly in 1885.
Each Experimentation are eighty
seven In all-forms one electoral dis
trict and chooses deputies in the ratio
OF one to each 10000 inhabitants-for-
eigners excluded. The total number of
Deputies is nov jSi, OF whom sixteen
are sent from French colonies. To
have the right TO vote ut Deputy
elections u man must be twenty
one years OF age, and have been a res
ident for two years In his town or can
ton. The only requisite for u Deputy
is to be a citizen and twenty-five years
OF age, but members OF families who
have reigned in France ARE forever
Ineligible for this election. The Sem
ate is composed of 800 members, of
whom 75 were elected for life by the
original constitution. but by the
revision of 1884 it was provided that
vacancies among the existing life
Senatorships should be filled, as they
occurred, by theelection OF ordinary
Senators for the term OF nine years.
Every three years onc-third OF the Sena-
tors retire and their places are filled by
new members. The Senators are elected
by delegates chosen by the communes
or municipalities OF France. who are in
conjunction with the members OF the
departmental councils, and the Depu-
ties OF the departmental. in max
ing the choice. No other qualifi-
cation is required for n Senator than
10 be u Frenchman, forty years OF age.
aud not member OF n deposed dy-
nasty, or General or Admiral on act
i've service. The two houses form the
National Assembly, which meets each
year on the second Tuesday in Janu-
ary, unless previously called together
by the President, and they must re-
main In session Mt least five months in
the year, and both Deputies and Sena-
tors are paid for their services, the
former drawing salary OF 1900, the
latter $3, 200 year. The President is
elected by majority of the votes OF
the Senate and House OF Deputies for
term of seven years, and he is ell
gible for second term or more.
He has the power OF appoint
ment to all civil and military posts
and he has, as advisors, Cabinet OF
ten members. The present Chief
Magistrate of the French Republic is
NJ. Sadi-Carnot, who was elected De-
cember 8, 1887. Tho last ministry
was appointed March 80. 1888, under
the Premiership of NJ. Charles Thomas
Floquet The French Cabinet is very
unstable, IA whenever one OF its meas
ures is overthrown by an adverse vote
In the Chamber its members arc
bound to resign. Often the term Of
official life for cabinet is limited to a
few weeks or even IL few days, as ad-
verse votes from an assembly includ-
ing so many shades of political opinion
nre the rule rather than the exception.
-CnicdOO Infer Ocean,