The Washington herald., 1908-05-17
By RUDOLPH DE zAPP.

aHQuce tiic voters 20 cast lHp4E NotcS al
the coming national election for their re-
spective candidates. the question as to the
constitutional rights and elective fran
chises Of subjects and citizens of foreign
countries will, no doubt, form an interest
ing subject for comparative study.
The legislative powers of our sister re-
public, France. reside in the Senate and
the Chamber of Deputies. The President
Of France. under the constitution of 1916.
IS elected for seven years by both legis-
lative branches, the Senate and the Cham
Der. The executive power vests jointly in
the President. the two houses, and the
ministry, which act as a check upon each
other The Senate consists OF 800 mem
bers, elected for nine years. from citizens
Of at least forty years of age. one-third
Of them retiring every three years. The
electoral body is composed Of delegates
chosen by the municipal council of each
commune: and the Deputies OF each de-
partment Life senator's were gradually
abolished by an act passed in 1884.
The Switzerland Idea.
According to the constitution of switz-
erland. the supreme legislative powers are
vested in q parliament of two chambers.
the Staenderath, or state council. and the
National Rath, or national council The
higher chamber is composed of forty-four
members, who are not only chosen. but
paid by the twenty-five cantons which
they represent. two for each canton. The
lower house consists Of 147 members. who
are elected by direct vote at the rate of
one deputy to every 10000 Of population.
In addition to these bodies. there is the
Bundesrath, or federal council, 10 which
the chief executive authority is assigned.
The members Of this council are not per-
mitted 10 hold any other ONCE in the con
federation or to transact any other busi-
ness, II is through their hands that leg
islative measures are introduced to the
deliberative councils, Every citizen who
has passed his twentieth birthday Is en-
titled to vote and any voter. clergymen
excepted, may become a deputy. The
President of the confederation and the
vice president Of the federal council are
elected by the federal assembly in joint
session and hold office for one year, from
January l TO December 81, and are not
eligible 10 the same Office until after the
expiration OF another year.
The constitution of Liberia, the African
negro republic, is based upon that Of the
United States. The executive power vests
in the President, a Vice President, and a
council of six members, while the legls-
lative power is a Parliament composed Of
TWO houses-the Senate. with nine mem
bers, ard the House OF Representatives,
thirteen members,
Senators Serve Four Years.
Senator's are elected for four years, but
the President and members of the lower
house hold Office for two years only. The
constitution provides that electors must
be landowners OF negro blood. and the
President must be owner Of real estate TO
the value of $780,
Andorra, the miniature republic in
the Pyrenees. under the joint suzerainty
Of France and Spain, is governed by a
council of twenty-four members. elected
by the heads of families. and this cOun-
Gil in turn elects the first and second
Syndics. who preside for four years over
the affairs of the little nation of less
than 5000 population
The executive power OF the British En-
pire reposes in the sovereign through his
ministers. The legislative power, how
ever, rests in Parliament. which exercises
through the lower house much authority
in executive matters. Parliament consists
Of sn upper House Of Lords and a lower
House of Commons. It lasts seven years,
or until dissolved by the sovereign, and it
usually meets annually for a term Of six
months The members Of the House Of
Lords are peers, who hold either by he
reditary right or by Crown appointment
10 the peerage. In 1892 there were $50
peers. The House of Commons consists
Of members elected from counties. bor-
oughs, and universities go in all in 1902
TTrrr - fTrv do 10
vested in the British sovereign, and the
legislative power OF the Dominion is ex-
eTcised by q Parliament Of two houses,
the Senate and House of Commons. Each
province forming the Dominion has q
separate Parliament and administration,
a lieutenant governor being at the head
of all provincial bodies. The Senate Of
the Dominion IS composed Of 81 members,
who have been nominated for life. The
2l3 members of the House are elected by
the vote OF the constituencies.
The German Emperor, according 10 the
constitution of the German empire of
April 16, 1871. only has the right to de-
clare defensive war. make peace, enter
into treaties. and appoint and receive
ambassadors
Acts with Parliament.
In other matters he acts in connection
with the Bundesrath. composed OF IS
members, who are appointed by the states
each session, and the Reichstag. com
posed of S97 members. elected by univer-
sal ballot for five years each. The Kaiser
has no legislative veto.
The legislative power of the Neither
lands, a constitutional monarchy, vests
Jointly In the sovereign and the States
General, which consists Of two chambers
the First and the Second. Members Of
the First Chamber are elected by the
provincial states for a term Of nine years,
while the 100 members OF the Second
Chamber are elected by the people for
four years Only the government and
the Second Chamber have the power to
introduce bills
The legislative power of Belgium is
vested IN the King, the Senate and
Chamber Of Representatives, and the ex-
ecutive in the heads Of eight ministers
Membership in the Senate and Chamber
IS propoTtioned according TO population.
Members of the Senate are elected for
eight years. those OF the Chamber for
four years.
Denmark. by her constitution of lS49
vests the executive power in the King
and his ministers. and the legislative
power in the Rigsdag. acting with the
sovereign. The Rigsdag has two cham
hers-the Landsthing. or upper house
which has e5 members, y OF which are
appointed by the King for life, and 81
members are selected by special electors
Tor a term of eight years. The Folke-
thing, or lower house. is composed OF ia
members elected for three years.
Swedish Kings Power.
In Sweden the King exercises legisla-
five mowers only in matters NJ r,O1iftceI
ministratlon. In all other cases it vests
In the Congress. or Diet, which consists
OF two houses. both Of which are elected