Evening star. [volume] (Washington, D.C.) 1854-1972, 1894-06-30

before the expir alton Of their terms. after
which the electoral college must be con-
yoked within three months for re-elec-
deputies, within three months previous TO
his death the electoral college would have
been Immediately called In the departments
70 elect lower house to act with the sx-
power to adjourn both houses Of pariia-
ment when the wheels Of state are not re,
volving In accordance with his wishes. but
this may happen only twice during q ses-
sion. and In each Of these instances for q
month only. which often causes q serious
menace to legislation, the parliamentary
term being limited. The state OF affairs
can be better appreciated II we suppose a
republican President were now seated IN
our White House. with the authority to
cut out two months Of the tariff debate
and that the term of the present Congress-
were limited to the LIST OF July.
Extra Sessions of the Legislature.
The president Of France. as ours. has the
power to call an extra session of the legts-
lature on extraordinary occasions. but in
this instance the scope Of the parliament's
power comes to the front, as 1t can call
its own extra session. by a majority vote
Of both houses before adjourning Thus,
making another application of these laws
to our country, Congress could call extra
sessions on the event of executive inter-
ference. although the President might con-
tiEue to bite out his two months. The con-
stitution also states that the president can
only be impeached by the chamber of
deputies. and can only be tried by the
senate, making jury Of the latter house.
and a Judge. with the power to pardon. Of
the former.
The ministers have seats in both of the
houses OF parliament, and must be heard
when they demand it. Although they are
named by the president. they are. in point
OF lact, elected by a majority of the cham
Der or deputies. By the constitution they
are merely responsible to both houses for
their doings, and practically the senate has
not the power to overthrow the govern
ment by hostile vote, while vote of a
want Of confidence by the house of deputies
compels the ministry to resign. Then, add
Ing to the complication Of authority the
new cabinet is made by the chamber of
deputies, through the president and 1t must
be remembered that he has the right to
dissolve the lower chamber, with the con-
sent OF the senate. So the president seems
to appear as a premier at the head Of a re-
movable executive council.
American Criticisms.
American jurists have seen fit, in various
works on the French constitution, to give
our sister republic some brotherly advice
and criticism presumably with the thought
that we were the inaugurators of republi-
can IDEAS In the modern world, or in other
words. that I'VE had 1t first" But the
French have gone almost two decades with
out amending their constitution, which,
some have said. is better suited to them
than we can ever appreciate until we are
made into Frenchmen Some have said that
restricted suffrage Is made the ruler of
the republic by submitting universal vot-
ing to the privileged go-betweens. Some
nave scolded because the senate is given
longer terms and greater privileges than
the lower house, filed by direct popular
vote. claiming also In their criticisms that
the larger body Is made to follow, under
penalty OF being dissolved. or of putting
the country in danger. 1t has also been
the complaint that there are innumerable
dfmculties which prevent the people from
keeping an open eye on their representa-
tives, and that 1t is impossible to hold
the intermediary electors to responsibility.
But these are all individual. theories, and
as for Uncle Sam. he will forever be look
ing lor beams In his own eye, and not be
botherins with the notes in his sisters
eyes.