Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1018

 966 GREECE

Constantine, then reigned till his death on October 25, 1920. From October 25 to November 18 Admiral Coundouriotis was Regent ; and from November 18 to December 5, 1920, Queen Olga.

The King, according to Art. 49 of the Constitution of 1864, attains his majority upon completing his eighteenth year. Within two months at the most the King must convoke the Legislature. If the successor to the throne is either a minor or absent at the time of the King's decease, and no Regent has been appointed, the Legislative Chamber has to assemble of its own accord within ten days after the occui-rence of that event. The constitutional royal authority in this case has to be exercised by the ministerial council, until the choice of a Regent, or the arrival of the successor to the throne. The sovereign and his heirs and successors must be members of the Greek Orthodox Church.

Constitution and Government.

The Constitution of Greece, adopted October 29, 1864, vested the whole legislative power in a single chamber, called the Bule", consisting of 184 representatives, elected by manhood suffrage (in the proportion of 1 for every 16,000 inhabitants) for the term of four years. In 1911 the Constitution was modified and a substitute for a second chamber was adopted in the re -establishment of the Council of State. The functions of the Council will be the examination of Projcts de Loi and the annulling of official decisions and acts which may be contrary to law. The new Constitution came in force on June 1, 1911. " The deputies must be at least 25 years of age. The elections take place by ballot. The Bule must meet annually for not less than three months. No sitting is valid unless at least one-third of the members of the Assembly are present, and no bill can pass into law without an absolute majority of members attending. Every measure before being adopted, must be discussed and voted, once in principle and twice article by article, on three separate days. A revision of any non-funda- mental provisions of the new Constitution may be demanded, after the lapse of ten years, by an ordinary Parliament by means of two votes passed by a two-thirds majority, provided that the second vote shall not be taken until at least one month after the first, and provided also that such revision shall be carried out by a newly-elected Chamber. The Chamber of Deputies, unless specially convoked at an earlier date, must meet on October 1 (old style) of every year. The deputies are paid 4,000 drachmai a year, except those living in Athens or in Piraeus, who receive only 3,200 drachmai. In case of absence extending over more than five sittings every month, the deputy has 20 drachmai per sitting taken from the total amount due to him. The number of Deputies, including those for the new territories, is 316.

The Chamber, elected in November, 1920, is composed of the following parties : — Rallis Party, 25 ; Gounaris Party, 75 ; Dragoumists, 30 : Independents, 69 ; Stratos' Party, 62 ; Liberals (Venizclists), 110.

The Ministry, appointed April 1, 1921, is as follows : —

Premier. — D. Gounaris.

Minister of Foreign Affairs. — J. Baltazzi.

Minister of Justice and of War and Marine (ad interim). — M. Tltcotohy.

Minister of the Interior. — M. Stais.

Minister of Communications. — P. Tsaldares.

Minister of Education. — Theodore Zaiviii.

Minister of Finance and of Supplies. — Al. J'rutupupadtiLit.

Minister of National Economy. — 1'eter Macrvniu-halis.

Minister of Public Assistance.- Al. Bartialis.

Minister of Agriculture. — M. Ttrlipcs.