Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1899 American Edition.djvu/1433

 CONSTITU'lION AND GOVERNMENT 1077

the Koran. The Ulema comprise all the great judges, theo- logians, and jurists, and the great teachers of literature and science who may be summoned by the Mufti. The principal civic functionaries bear the titles of Effendi, Bey, or Pasha.

Forms of constitution, after the model of the West European States, were drawn up at various periods by successive Ottoman Governments, the first of them embodied in the ' Hatti-Humii- youn' of Sultan Abdul-Medjid, proclaimed February 18, 1856, and the most recent in a decree of Sultan Abdul- Hamid II., of November, 1876. But the carrying out of these projects of reform appears entirely impossible in the present condition of the Ottoman Empire.

The Grand Vizier, as head of the Government and representa- tive of the Sovereign, is assisted by the Medjliss-i-Hass, or Privy Council, which corresponds to the British Cabinet. The Medjliss-i-Hass consists of the following members: — 1. The Grand Vizier ; 2. The Sheik-ul-Islam ; 3. The Minister of the Interior; 4. The Minister of War; 5. The Minister of Evkaf (Worship); 6. The Minister of Public Instruction; 7. The Minister of Public Works ; 8. President of Council of State ; 9. Minister of Foreign Affairs; 10. Minister of Finance; 11. Minister of Marine; 12. Minister of Justice; 13. Minister of Civil List.

The whole of the empire is divided into thirty Vilayets, or governments, and subdivided into Sanjaks, or provinces, Kazas, or districts, Nahies, or subdistricts, and Karies, or communities. A Vali, or governor-general, who is held to represent the Sultan, and is assisted by a provincial council, is placed at the head of each Vilayet. The provinces, districts, &c., are subjected to inferior authorities (Mutesarifs, Caimakams, Mudirs and Muktars) under the superintendence of the principal governor. The division of the country into Vilayets has been frequently modified of late for political reasons. For similar reasons six of the Sanjaks of the empire are governed by Mutesarifs appointed directly by the Sultan, and are known as Mutessarifats. All subjects, however humble their origin, are eligible to, and may fill, the highest offices in the State.

Under the capitulations foreigners residing in Turkey are under the laws of their respective countries, and are amenable for trial (in cases in which Turkish subjects are not concerned) to a tribunal presided over by their consul. Foreigners who own real property are amenable to the Ottoman civil courts in ques- tions relative to their landed property. Cases between foreign and Tuj'kish subjects are tried in the Ottoman courts, a di-ago-