The Irish standard. [volume] (Minneapolis, Minn. ;) 1886-1920, 1905-03-04
DIFFER WIDELY
Peculiar Makeup of Machinery
Which Runs France
A Republic, 1t Is Altogether
Different from Our Own


France, like the United States, is a
republic with written constitution.
But the constitutions of the two
countries differ widely from each
other. No provision of the constitu-
ton of the United States can be
changed until the amendment by
which it is proposed to change it has
been submitted to the people and ap-
proved by the legislatures of three
fourths of the states. The constitu-
ton of France, on the other hand, is
divided into kinds of laws, one called
constitutional, the other called
''organic." The "organic" laws may
be altered in the same way that other
laws may be altered-that is, by
simple act of parliament. For ex-
ample, the French senate, which ex-
lists only in virtue of the provisions of
an 'sorganic" law, may have the most
radical changes made in it, or it may
be practically abolished, by the two
houses Of parliament sitting and voting
exactly as they would sit and vote if
considering measure of the utmost
triviality. The constitutional laws
may be changed almost as easily.
When the senate and house Of depu-
ties meet together they constitute the
National Assembly, and the National
Assembly has power and authority,
by Il mere majority vote, to make any
changes in the government it pleases
without in any way referring the mat
ter to the people. If it wanted to, it
could meet tomorrow and abolish the
republic and set up an absolute mon
arclly.
The inference which would natur-
ally be drawn from these statements
is that the French parliament almost
monopolizes the power of the French
government, instead of being checked
and balanced by the executive and
judicial departments, as the congress
of the United States is, and a close
inspection of French institutions
amply yerifies this inference. The gov
eminent of France has been aptly
described as government by mass
meeting" and tumultuous and dis
orderly mass meeting it sometimes is.
The titular chief of France is the
president He is elected, not by the
people, but by majority vote of the
two houses of parliament, meeting to-
getber as a National Assembly. His
term is seven years. He cannot veto
Legislation. but may require the houses
to reconsider it. He has the legal
power to appoint and remove all pub
lie officials, including ambassadors
and cabinet ministers. He can ad-
journ the chambers for any period Of
less than month, can dissolve them
after they have sat five months, and,
with the consent of the senate, can
dissolve the chamber of deputies at
any time.
But extensive as is the nominal au-
thority Of the French president, his
real authority usually is extremely
limited. He is generally as much Of
a figurehcad as is the King Of Eng
land. He has only a Hobson's choice
in the selection of his cabinet. He
may select whom he wishes, provided
he selects whom the chamber Of dep
uties wishes. His ministers are re-
but to the chambers. His appoint
ments to all offices, no matter how
important or how trifling, must be
countcrsigned by his ministers, and
are, therefore, really the appointments
of the ministers.
The French cabinet has at present
twelve members, the Minister Of JUS
tice, the Minister of Finance, the Min
! lister of War, the Minister Of Marine,
the Minister Of Colonies, the
Minister of Foreign Affairs, the
Minister OF the Interior ana OF PUBLIC
Worship, the Minister Of Public In
struction, Religion and the Fine Arts,
the Minister of Public Works, the
Minister of Agriculture, the Minister
of Trade and Industry, and the Minis
ter Of Posts and Telegraphs. The ma
lures of the administrative duties Of
| most of the ministers are indicated
by their official duties.
In France. as in England, the min
| listers must resign their places when
| they cannot command majority for
| their policies in the more popular
branch of parliament which is, in
| France, the chamber of deputies. The
The president then sends for the
leader of the party or group Of parties