Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1397

Rh cent. of total population, while 167,207 votes, or 85.33 per cent. of the whole number, were recorded. Of the total male population, 45 per cent. are 25 years of age and above. The Storthing has 114 members—38 from towns, 76 from rural districts.

The Storthing, when assembled, divides itself into two houses, the 'Lagthing' and the 'Odelsthing.' The former is composed of one-fourth of the members of the Storthing, and the other of the remaining three-fourths. The Thing nominates its own presidents. The principal ordinary business of the Storthing is to enact or repeal laws, to impose taxes, to supervise the financial affairs of the kingdom, to vote the amounts required for the public expenditure, and to examine treaties concluded with foreign Powers. Questions relating to laws must be considered by each house separately. The inspection of public accounts and the revision of the Government, and impeachment before the Rigsret, belong exclusively to the Odelsthing. All other matters are settled by both houses in common sitting. The Storthing elects five delegates, whose duty it is to revise the public accounts. All new laws must first be laid before the Odelsthing, from which they pass into the Lagthing to be either accepted or rejected. If the Odelsthing and Lagthing do not agree, the two houses assemble in common sitting to deliberate, and the final decision is given by a majority of two-thirds of the voters. The same majority is required for alterations of the Constitution. The Lagthing and the ordinary members of the supreme court of justice (Höiesteret) form a high court of justice (the Rigsret) for the impeachment and trial of Ministers, members of the Höiesteret, and members of the Storthing. While in session, every member of the Storthing has an allowance of twelve kroner (13 s. 4 d.) a day, besides travelling expenses.

The executive is represented by the King, who exercises his authority through a Council of State, composed of two Ministers of State and at least seven Councillors. Two of the Councillors, who change every year, together with one of the Ministers, form a delegation of the Council of State, residing at Stockholm, near the King. Ministers and Councillors of State are entitled to be present in the Siorthing and to take part in the discussions, when public, but without a vote. The following are the members of the Council of State, February 16, 1898:—

Minister of State.—Johannes Wilhelm Christian Steen.

Department of Education and Ecclesiastical Affairs.—Vilhelm Andreas Wexelsen.

Department of Justice.—Ole Anton Qvam.

Department of the Interior.—Georg August Thilesen.

Department of Public Works.—Jörgen Gunderson Lövland.

Department of Finance and Customs.—Elias Sunde.

Department of Defence.—Colonel Peter Theodor Holst.

Revision of Public Accounts Department.—J. W. C. Steen, Minister of State.

Otto Albert Blehr, Minister of State.

Hans Hein Theodor Nysom.

Einar Löchen. Rh