Virginian-pilot. (Norfolk, Va.) 1898-1911, 1899-04-12

vote and be voted for. The members re-
ceiye no compensation, but are entitled
to travel free on the government rail-
ways. The diet decides upon contested
elections, chooses its own officers and
frames Its own rules. The quorum is n
majority of all the legal members and
the majority of the quorum voices the
Will of the house. individual members
may not introduce bills unless support
ed by number of colleagues (now fif-
teen). There Is absolute liberty of de-
bate, of which the opposition never fails
to avail itself. Members are free from
arrest. unless apprehended in the COM
mission of crime.
There are certain points in which the
resemblance of the diet to the United
States house of representatives falls
Treaties with foreign powers, which re-
late to the enumerated subjects of i'm
perial legislation, made by the emperor
with the advice and consent of the
council, require the further connrma-
ton of the diet. Accordingly no treaty
can bind the government to pay money
without the consent of the peoples
representatives.
Whenever n bill concerns not the en-
pire as whole. but only certain states,
the representatives of such states alone
are entitled to vote. This principle holds
also in the federal council.
The legislative bodies may adjourn
from day to day, but they are not COM
petent to fix the time of final adjourn
ment nor that of meeting. The en-
peror has the right to fix those dates,
but is bound by the constitution to as
semble the houses in joint session an
nually. The emperor with the assent
OF the council may dissolve the diet and
order n rev election. which must take
place within sixty days. The emperor
of his own motion may adjourn the diet
for thirty days. but only once in any
session.
The federal council is in fact what
the senate of the United States is in
theory, a body of state delegates. These
are appointed by the state executive
under more or less Legislative control
They possess the character of Ambas>
sailors according to international law
and act under instructions from their
respective governments, to which they
are responsible. The principle of equal
ity of state representation does not pre-
vail. The number of votes vary with
the magnitude of the states and are
specifically designated in the constitu-
ton. Prussia has II votes: Bavaria. g.
SaXony and Wurtemberg have each 4:
Baden and Hesse, s; two states have
.; the remaining seventeen states have
each one vote. In all there are fifty
eight votes. and when the council is
full the same number of members.
lie NOleS Oh CdCn state, so 11f as
represented. are cast in Il lump by
spokesman. and the delegates present
even IL a minority, determine on which
side they shall be given. The council
is n perpetual body, and the emperor
is bound TO conVoke it upon the de-
mand of One-thrd of the members
Any member has right To he heard ut
his request before the diet on behalf of
his state government. The imperial
chancellor prcsides over the council
and directs its business. In the alb
Sence of any constitutional provision
regarding the quorum OF the council,
it is held that If the chancellor be pres
cnt any number of councillors are
quorum. a majority of votes is nee
essary 10 the passage of law. In case
oil n tie the chancellor has the casting
vote. Any delegation may introduce
bills and resolutions. Like the senate
of the United States, the federal coun-
Gil is primarily a legislative body. one
or the two chambers whose concurrence
is necessary to the enactment of law.
Like the senate, also, it has powers not
legislative, such as that of confirming
or rejecting treaties.
There is n provision in the consti.u
ton giving the council power to act in
regard to the execution of the laws and
ccfects therein whenever no other pro-
vision has been made by law. Inas
'"'Nh "a IL is not the custom il Ger
many for legislative bodies to descend
INTO details of administration. here is
W'oe held for Independent action BY
some this provision is interpreted MS
comforting upon the council the resi-
dunn of unenumerated powers and
lodging in that body the ultimate SOW
erelgnty of the empire. That the coun-
Gil may constantly supervise and hold
check upon the administrative de-
partments 1t is required to maintain for
each OF them standing committee
winch may sit and act during recess
But the emperor appoints those for the
army ana navy, except one place on the
army commission, which belongs 10
| Bavaria
The federal council is intrusted with
one power not definitely lodged in anv
department of our national government
In case n state of the empire shall fail
10 1uihll lis constitutional duties las
Ior instance. by non-payment of an
assessmenO the council is authorized to
oruer nilltary execution. which the en-
peror Is bound to enforce Waving the
question, much debated, whether the
federal council is the actual sovereign
OF the empire, its exalted position ana
iar-reacnlng power must he conceded
NOTE.-This paper will be concluded
on Wednesday of next week.
EXAMINATIONS AND cERTIrI.
| GATES.
At the end OF the term OF seventee
| weeks series of ol1oStionc on< l.,