Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-05-24

OF Italy. and finally. In 1870. after
sharp struggle with the pope. support
ed by France. Victor Emmanuel an
nexed the papal states. entered the city
OIL the Caesars in triumph and from this
| new capital began to rule united
Italy The dream Of nationality was
realized.
THE ITALIAN CONSTITUTION.
me ilttie Kingdom of Sardinia ex-
panded into the present kingdom of
itaiy without chaging materially its
form of government. During the memo
| raple year of 1S4S, when a revolutionary
movement swept all Europe, forcing
the monarchs to make liberal conces-
SONS IN order to stem the rising tide
OF democracy, the father of Victor
Emmanuel had granted his people a
constitution called the statute. This
document remains the constitution of
united italy to-day 1t has never been
amended formally, but the government
conducted under 1t has changed In
spirit and adapted to new conditions in
the same way that our American con-
sutution has been modined-that Is, by
more nperai Interpretation. Moreover.
since inc written constitution Is very
general in it's terms the italian gov
eminent has found opportunity to de-
.clop much as the English parliament
cary system has developed by legal GUS
IN the absence of written provisions in
NE constitution of infinitely prcscrib-
Ing the organization and the power Of
inc various governing bodies.
KING AND CABINET
The chief executive Of Italy Is tho
King. The kingly office Is hereditary.
descending in the male line of the royai
iamily. BY the terms of the statute the
King has very large power. but custom
has narrowed his authority. For In
stance, his assent is theoretically nee
essary for legislation; practically he
never refuses approval of laws passed
by the chambers
Through custom. which has the force
OF law, the real executive of Italy ia a
ministry responsible to the popular
branch OF the national legislature. Thus
the parliamentary system of cabinet
government. originating in England
and adopted with notifications by
france. is also the governmental sys-
tenn Oh Italy. The cabinet consists of
eieNeh ministers. each one presiding
over n great department. OF state. In
theory the king chooses these minis
tiers. In practice he selects as prime
minister man who commands a ma
1ority IN the chamber of deputies. and
| .nis premier constructs n cabinet. When
| inc cahinet loses the confidence of tho
chamber of deputies the king accents
the designations OF the members and
calls upon the leader of the victorious
opposition to form new cabinet Thus
italy has free government through a
THE SENATE.
The Italian parliament is composed
| OF two houses the senate and the
chamber OF deputies. The senate 10
aristocratic in theory. 1t represents
rank, wealth and scientific attainment
II IS made up of the princes of the
royal house and Of members chosen hv
ume KING from certain specified classes.
nese classes are bishops, high officials
OF the military and civil service. men
VINO have had at least six years SER
vice III the chamber Of deputies. those
VINO pay minimum annual tax of
ABOUT SoVo ana men who are distin-
EulShed Tor unusual scientific attain
inent or exceptional service to the
state. The senate is permitted to tudre
"hether n person nominated nv tho
KING properly belongs to one OF the
specified classes. and thus 1t controls
us own membership. 1t is n large body.
az present consisting of 372 members
The appointment OF members 10 ror
life. A''
In addition to It's legislative duties
me senate has certain judicial func-
IONS. Like the United States senate.
thc Italian senate tries impeachment
cases 1t also sits as a court in cases
| OF high treason and has the curious
| privilege or trying all accusations
against members OF It's own body. who
are thus exempt from ordinary process.
Inc popular body, the chamber Of
deputies is elected by n district sys-
TEN similar to that of the United
States The franchise is more limited
than ours. however. The limitation i'm
| posed is II very reasonable one which
many students of politics would be GLAD
10 see applied in our own country I'D.
ucatIon. service to the state or pro-
pcIty holding arc made the tests of Mt
ness Tor the franchise. With the ex-
| cepiion-of the classes enumerated here
| .Hter an those VINO apply for the voting
| privilege are required to show abiIitv
/ 10 READ and write and are compelled
10 pass an examination in the element
airy SUBJECTS covered by the compuI-
| sorry education course However those
| VINO can show a medal received for mil
| hary or civil service or who paw n d.
| rect tax OF about 81 annually or renta
10 Il certain specified amount are ex-
empt from examination. In italy
Where ililteracy is very prevalent. the
euucat 'ohai qualification excludes from
| popula ton. $50
Inc present number of the deputies
Is ooS. The maximum term is five
! years. but dissolution of parliament
generally cuts this short, and the aver
age term OF deputy is about three
years. The chamber of deputies en-
Joys the same special privilege accord.
ed TO the United States house of rem
resentatives and British mouse Of COM
mons in that revenue bills must origI.
nate in this body of the representatives
| OF the people.
SUPREMACY OF THE DEPUTIES.
! me chamber of deputies OF Italy pre-
SchtS many points of similarity to the
| french body of the same name and to
me Brltish house of commons. Like the
mouse OF commons it is the real gov
erning body OF the nation. The ministry