Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/1292

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RUMANIA.

Reigning King.

Carol I King of Rumania, born April 20, 1839, son of the late Prince Karl of Hobenzollern-Sigmaringen ; elected 'Domn,' or Lord, of Rumania April 20 (N S.), 1866 ; entered Bucharest May 22 (N.S), 1866. Proclaimed King of Rumania March 26 (N.S), 1881. Married, November 15, 1869, to Princess Elizabeth von JVicd, born Dec. 29, 1843. ^, , i

The Kino- has in addition to revenues from certain Crown lands, an annual allowance ofl,185,185 lei, or47,400Z, The heir to the crown has an annual donation of300,000 lei (12, OOOZ.).

The succession to the throne of Rumania, m the event of the limg remain- ing childless, was settled, by Art. 83 of the Constitution, upon his elder brother, Prince Leopold of Hohenzollern-Sigmaringen, who renounced his rights m favour of his son. Prince AVilhelm, the act having been registered by the Senate in October 1880. Prince Wilhelm, on November 22, 1888, renounced his rights to the throne in favour of his brother. Prince Ferdinand, born August 24, 1865, who, by a decree of the King, dated March 18, 1889, was created 'Prince of Rumania.' Prince Ferdinand was married, January 10, 1893, to Princess Marie, daughter of the Duke of Saxe-Coburg and Gotha ; offspring of the union are Carol, born October 15, 1893 ; Ehsabeth, born October 11, 1894; Marie, born January 8, 1900; Nicholas, born August. 18, 1903 ; and Ileana, born January 5, 1909. -, ,r u •

The union of the two Principalities of Wallachia and Moldavia was publicly proclaimed at Bucharest and Jassy on Dec. 23, 1861, the present name being given to the united provinces. The first ruler of Rumania was Colonel Cuza, who had been elected * Hospodar,' or Lord, of Wallachia and ol Moldavia in 1859, and who assumed the government under the title of Prmce Alexandru Joan L A revolution which broke out in February 1866 lorced Prince Alexandru Joan to abdicate, and led to the election of Prince Carol I. The representatives of the people, assembled at Bucharest, proclaimed Rumania's independence from Turkey, May 21, 1877, which was confirmed by Art. 43 of the Congress of Berlin, signed July 13, 1878.

Constitution and Government.

The Constitution now in force in Rumania was voted by a Constituent Assembly, elected by universal suftrage, in the summer of 1866. It has twice been modified-viz. , in 1879, and again in 1884. The Senate consists of 120 members, elected for 8 years, including 2 for the Universities, and 8 bishops The heir to the crown is also a Senator. The Chamber ot Deputies consists of 183 members, elected for 4 years A Senator must be 40 years of age, and a Deputy 25. Members of either House must be Rumanians by birth or naturalisation, in full enjoyment of civil and political rights, and domiciled in the country. For the Senate an assured income of 9, 400 lei (376^. ) is required. All citizens of full age, paying taxes, are electors, and are divided into three Electoral Colleges. For the Chamber of Deputies, electors who are in possession of property bringing in 50Z. or upwards per annum vote in the first College. Those having their domicile and residence in an urban commune, and paying direct taxes to the State ol 20 lei. or upwards annually, or being persons ex(!rcisiiig the liberal protes- sions, retired officers, or State pensioners, or who have been through the primary course of education, vote in the second (College. The third College is composed of those who, paying any tax, however small, to the State, belong to neither of the other colleges ; those of them who can read and write and have an income of 300 lei {121.) from rural land, vote directly, as do also the village priests and schoolmasters, the rest vote indirectly. For each