Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1099

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 977

months. Each of the Chambers has the right of introducing new bills, the same as the Government ; but all money bills must originate in the House of Deputies. The ministers have the right to attend the debates of both the upper and the lower House ; but they have no vote unless they are members. No sitting is valid unless an absolute majority of the members are present.

The executive power is exercised, under the King, by a ministry divided into 12 departments. The ministry, constituted March 29, 1911, is as follows : —

President of the Council and Minister of the Interior. — Signor Giolitti. Minister of Foreign Affairs. — The Marquis di San Giuliano. Minister for the Colonies. — Signor Bertolini.

Minister of Justice and of Ecclesiastical Affairs. — Signor Finocchiaro Aprile.

Minister of the Treasury. — Signor Tedesco.

Minister of Finance. — Signor Facta.

Minister of War. — General Paolo Spingardi, senator.

Minister of Marine. — Contr 'Admiral Pasquale Leoimrdi Cattolica, senator.

Minister of Public Instruction. — Signor Gredaro.

Minister of Public Works. — Signor Sacchi.

Minister of Agriculture, Industry, and Commerce. — Signor Nitti.

Minister of Posts and. Telegraphs. — Signor Calissano.

The Minister for the Colonies was established by a law of July 6, 1912.

Local Goveknment.

The administrative divisions of Italy are provinces, territories (circondari), districts, and communes. There are 69 provinces : of which 60 are divided into territories {circondari), and 9 (the province of Mantua and the 8 ])rovinces of Venetia) into districts. There are 275 territories and 71 districts. The districts have been dx facto suppressed, though still nomi- nally existing as administrative divisions. The territories and districts are divided into communes.

In 1913 (January 1) there were 8,326 communes. The two principal elective local administrative bodies are the communal councils and the pro- vincial councils. According to the law of May 21, 1908, each commune has a communal council, a municipal council, and a syndic. Both the communal councils and the municipal councils vary according to population; the members of the latter being selected by the former from among themselves. The syndic is the head of the communal administration, and is a Government official ; he is elected by the communal council from among its own members, by secret vote. Each province has a provincial council and a provincial commission, the numbers varying according to population. The council elects its president and other officials. The provincial commission is elected by the council from its own members. It conducts the business of the province when the latter is not sitting. Both communal and provincial councillors are elected for 6 years, one-half being renewed every 2 years. The communal council meets twice and the provincial once a year in ordinary session, though they may be convened for extraordinary purposes. All com- munal electors are eligible to the council except those having an official or pecuniary interest* in the commune. Electors must be Italian citizens,

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