Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1913.djvu/759

 HUNGARY 637

HUNGARY.

Constitution and Government.

I. Central and Provincial Government.

The Constitution of the eastern part of the monarchy, or the kingdom of Hun^^ary, including Hungary Proper and Croatia-Slavonia, dates from the occupation of the country by the Magyars, about 891. The first king, Saint Stephen, was crowned in 1000. The first charter or constitutional code is the 'Bulla Aurea ' of King Andrew II., granted in 1222, which defined the form of government as an aristocratic monarchy. The Hungarian Constitution has been repeatedly suspended and partially disregarded, until, at the end of the armed struggle of 1849, it was decreed to be forfeited by the nation. This decree was repealed in 1860; and the present sovereign, on June 8, 1867, swore to maintain the Constitution, and was crowned King

The'^Hungarian Parliament (Orszaggyules) has legislative authority for Hungary, and for Croatia and Slavonia in matters which concern these provinces in common with Hungary Proper. It consists of an Upper House (Forendihaz) and a Lower House (Kepviselohaz). , ^

The House of Magnates, reformed by an Act passed m 1885, now incmdes the archdukes who have attained their majority (18 years), those Hungarian princes, counts and barons— if of age (24 years) and paying at least 6,000 crowns a year land tax— whose families possess the right of hereditary peer- acre (designated by Act of 1885 or having received it since by a special Act); 38 archbishops, bishops, and other dignitaries of the Roman Catholic and Greek Churches; 12 ecclesiastical and lay representatives of the Protestant Confessions; life peers appointed by the Crown not exceeding 50 m number; life peers elected, once for all, by the Upper House; 17 members ea; offi<iio, beinc^ State dignitaries (haroncs regni) and high judges; and lastly, 3 dele- o-ates of Croatia-Slavonia, and the Governor of Fiume. In the session ot 1911-12 the number of archdukes was 15, and there were 229 hereditary peers holding the property qualification; and 60 life peers appointed by the Crown or chosen by the House of Magnates.

The Lower House or House of Representatives is elected by the vote of all male citizens, of 20 years of age, who pay a small direct tax on house ])roperty or land, or on an income varying with occupation; but m all cases low. Certain large classes— professional, scientific, learned, and others- are entitled to vote without other qualifications: there were m 1911,^8^9,329. The number of the electorate was in 1911 in Hungary Proper, 1,197, /26, or 24-9 per cent, of the total civil male population over 20 years, New^^ elections must take place every five years. By the electoral law now m force, the House of Representatives consists of 453 members, of whom 413 are deputies of Huncrariau towns and districts, and 40 delegates of Croatia and Slavonia.

Members of the Lower House receive 4,800 crowns (200Z.) a year, with an allowance of 1,600 crowns (66Z. 13s.) for house rent.

The Parliament is summoned annually by the King at Budapest^ iiie language of the Parliament is Hungarian; but the representatives of Croatia and Slavonia may speak their own language. , ,, ^.. t j

Lower House (June 1910):—" National party of work. 255; Indepen- dents (in their two sections— Kossuthites, 53; and Justhists, 38), 91; other parties (Social Democrats, Christian Socialists, Farmers), 67.