Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1871.djvu/199

 CONSTITUTION, REVENUE, AND POPULATION. 1 63

Duke Karl August, patron of German literature, and friend of Gbthe and Schiller.

The Grand-duke has a large private fortune, part of which he obtained in dowry with his consort, Princess Sophie of the Nether- lands. He has also a civil list of 280,000 thalers, or 42,000/., amounting to about one-sixth of the revenues of Saxe-Weimar.

Constitution, Revenue, and Population,

The constitution of the Grand-duchy was granted May 5, 1816 ; but slightly altered by the law of October 15, 18-49. According to this charter the legislative power is vested in a House of Parliament represented by one Chamber. It is composed of 31 members, of whom ten are chosen by the proprietors of nobiliar estates ; ten by the towns ; ten others by the inhabitants of rural districts, and one by the Senate of the University of Jena. At the general election, which takes place every seventh year, not only the representatives themselves are chosen, but likewise a substitute for every member, who has to take his place in case of illness, death, or prolonged absence. The ten members for the nobility are elected directly by all psoprietors of Ritterguter, or noble estates; even ladies being allowed to. vote. In the representation of towns and rural districts the mode of election is indirect. The whole body of voters choose a certain number of delegates, in the proportion of one to every fifty houses, and these deputies elect the member for the place. The Chamber meets every three years, and a standing committee of nine members continues to sit during the adjournment.

The executive, acting under the orders of the Grand-duke, but responsible to the representatives of the country, is divided into three departments, which are, the Ministry of the Grand-ducal House, of the Interior, and of Foreign Affairs ; the Ministry of Finance ; and the Ministry of Justice and of Ecclesiastical Affairs..

The budget is granted by the Chamber for a period of three years. That from 1863 to 1865 comprised an annual; income of 1,658^668 thaler, or 248,808/., and an annual expenditure of 1,654,558 thaler, or 248,189/., leaving a surplus of 4,110 thaler, or 619/., for the year. Estimates for the period 1866-68 were based' upon annnal receipts of 1,730,131 thaler, and annual disbursements of 1,700,088 thaler, leaving a yearly surplus of 30,043 thaler. The public debt amounted to 4,560,000 thaler, or 648,000/., on Jaauary 1, 1869.

The Grand-duchy has an area of 1,421 English square miles, with a population of 283,044 at the census of December 3, 1867.

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