Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/734

 612 AUSTRIA- HUNGARY

Coinpioniise (Ausglcicli, Kiegyezes) of 1867. According to this agreement the two States are perfectly independent of each other, possessing each its own constitution, its legislative power and its executive departments for most branches of State affairs. There is, however, a close political connection between them through the identity of the Sovereign and the community of certain departments of State affairs.

The common head of the monarchy is the Emperor (Kaiser) of Austria and Apostolic King (Apostoli Kiraly) of Hungary, The crown is hereditary in the Habsburg- Lorraine dynasty, passing by right of primogeniture and lineal succession to males and (on failure of males) to females (the so-called "successio mixta"). The monarch must be a member of the Koman Catholic Church, He is styled ' His Imperial and Apostolic Royal Majesty,' being 'Emperor of Austria, King of Bohemia, &c., and Apostolic King of Hungary.'

Affairs common to the two States are :— (1) Foreign affairs ; (2) military and naval affairs, and (3) finance relating to common affairs. The two States administer these matters by common institutions and common ministries. The conduct of all diplomatic affairs and the diplomatic representation of the two States abroad are common to both. The greater part of the armed force and the entire navy are common, but the Austrian Landwehr and Austrian Levy-in-mass and the Hungarian Honvedsig and the Hungarian Levy-in-mass, although standing in organic connection with the common army, are special institutions administered by a particular ministry of each State. The financial business is in so far common, as the costs and expenses are common, which are applied for the common institutions and their conduct ; but each State provides separately for the assessment, collection, and transmission of its contribution.

Legislative power relating to common affairs (including the voting of money for common purposes) is exercised by the Parlianienls of both States, but the duty of examining the requirements of the conunon services and advising what amount of money should be voted for each belongs to the so-called Delegations. Of these there are two, each consisting of 60 members, of whom 20 are chosen from each of the Upper Houses (the Austrian Herrenhaus and the Hungarian Fcirendihaz), and 40 from each of the Lower Houses (the Austrian Al)geordnetenhaus and the Hungarian Kepviselohaz). The members are appointed for one year. The Delegations are summoned annually by the Emperor and King, alternately fit Vienna and Budapest. They deliberate independently of each other, their decisions being communicated reci]>rocally in writing ; and if, after three such intei^^hanges, they do not agree, then all the delegates (or an equal number of members from each Delegation) meet together, and, witliout discussion, settle the matter by vote.

Besides ihe political connection between Austria and Hungary, which is of a permanent character, there is a commercial imion which is not permanent, but renewable at intervals of ten years. Under this arrange- ment the two States form practically one customs and commercial territory with the same coinage, weights and measures, a joint bank of issue and the same commercial (consular) representation abroad, while the monopolies and taxes connected with industrial production (salt, tobacco, spirits, beer, sugar and mineral oil) are administered on identical principles in both countries. This customs and commercial union, begun in 186.7, was renewed in 1878, 1887, and 1907. In 1897 no agreement was attained ; in tact, however, the commercial union was kept in vigour