Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/182

 I46 GERMANY — SAXONY.

Constitution and Government.

The present Constitution of Saxony dates from Sept. 4, 1831 ; but has undergone alterations and modifications by the laws of March 31, 1849 ; May 5, 1851 ; November 27, 1860 ; and October 19, 1861. According to the terms of the Constitution, the crown is hereditary in the male line ; but, at the extinction of the latter, also in the female line. The sovereign comes of age at the completed eighteenth year, and, during his minority, the nearest heir to the throne takes the regency. In the hands of the King is the sole executive power, which he exercises through responsible ministers. The legislature is jointly in the King and Parliament, the latter consisting of two chambers. The Upper Chamber comprises the princes of the blood royal ; the proprietors of eight baronial domains ; twelve deputies elected by the owners of other nobiliar estates; ten noble proprietors nominated by the King for life; the burgomasters of eight toAvns; and the superintendents and deputies of live collegiate institutions, of the university of Leipzig, and of the Roman Catholic chapter of St. Peter at Bautzen. The Lower Chamber is made up of twenty deputies of landed proprietors; twenty -five of towns and city cor- porations; twenty-five of peasants and communes; and five repre- sentatives of commerce and manufacturing industry. The qualifica- tion for a seat in the Upper House, as well as the right of election to the same, is the possession of a landed estate, worth at least 1,000 thalers a year ; which qualification, however, is not required by the ex officio deputies of chapters and universities. To be a member of the Lower House, no fixed income is required ; and electors are all men above twenty-five years of age who pay taxes, or contribute in any way to the public burdens. A salary is attached to the per- formance of the legislative functions ; the members of the Upper House being allowed seven thaler, or about a guinea a day, during the sittings of Parliament, and the deputies to the second chamber three thaler, or 9s. Both houses have the right to make proposi- tions for new laws, the bills for which, however, must come from the ministry. No taxes can be made, levied, or altered without the sanction of both Chambers.

The executive is in the King and a Council of Ministers, con- sisting of five members, namely : —

1. The Ministry of the Interior. — Hermann von Nostitz- Wallivitz, appointed Oct. 20, 18GG.

2. The Ministry of Justice. — Dr. Robert Schneider, appointed November 1866.

3. The Ministry of War. — General Alfred von Fabrice, appointed October, 1866.