Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1234

 PORTUGAL

A.D.

A.D.

1097

rhilipll. .

1598

1140

rhiiipiii. .

1621

1185

1211

IV. House of Braganza.

1223

1248

Joan IV., 'the Restoi

er

' 1640

1279

Affouso VI.

1656

1325

Pedro II. .

1683

1357

Joan V,. . ,

Jose

1706 1750

1367

Maria I. and Pedro III Maria I.. Joan, Regent

1777 1786 1799

1385

Joan VI. .

1816

1433

Pedro IV. .

1826

1438

Maria II.

1826

1481

Miguel I..

1828

1495

Maria II., restored

. 1834

1521

1557

V. House of Braganza-

Cohurg.

1578

Pedro V..

1853

Lniz I. .,.

1861

1580

Carlos I.

1889

878

I. House of Burgundy. Henri of Burgundy Affonso I., ' the Conqueror ' Sancho I., 'the Colonizer' Affonso II., 'the Fat Sancho II., ' Capel'. Affouso III., 'the Bolonian' Diniz, ' the Farmer '. Affonso IV., 'the Brave'. Pedro, 'the Severe' Ferdinando I., 'the Hand- some '. . ..

I i. House of Avis. Joan I., 'of Happy memory' Duarte ....

Affonso V,, ' the African '. Joan II., 'the Perfect' Manoel, ' the Fortunate ' Joan III, .... Sebastian, ' the Desired ' Cardinal Henrique

III. TJie Spanish Dynasty. Philip I. (II. of Spain)

Constitution and Government.

The fundamental law of the Kingdom is the ' Constitutional Charter ' granted by King Pedro IV., April 29, 1826, altered by the additional Acts, dated July 5, 1852, July 24, 1885, and by laws of 1895 (March 28, September 25). The crown is heredi- tary in the female as well as male line ; but with preference of the male in case of equal birthright. The Constitution recognises four powers in the State, the legislative, the executive, the judicial, and the ' moderating ' authority, the last of which is vested in the Sovereign. There are two legislative Chambers, the ' Camara dos Pares,' or House of Peers, and the * Camara dos Deputados,' or House of Commons, which are conjunctively called the Cortes Geraes. The law of July 24, 1885, provided for the abolition of hereditary peerages, though only by a gradual process. The law of March 28, 1895, made without the concurrence of the Parliament, alters considerably the past constitution of the two houses. The number of life peers appointed by the King will be 90, not including princes of the royal blood and the 12 bishops of the Continental dioceses. The nominated peers, who must be over 40 years of age, may be selected without limitation as to class, but certain restrictions and disqualifications are imposed. The elective portion of the Chamber ceases to exist. The members of the second Chamber are chosen in direct election, by all citizens twenty-one years of age who can read and write, or