Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/1123

 1671

LUXEMBURG.

Reigning Graud-duchess.— Charlotte born January 23, 1896,

succeeded on the abdication of her sister Marie- Adelaide ; on January 9, 1919 ; married to Prince Felir of Bourbon-Parma on November 7, 1919. Offspring :— Prim -e Jmm, lorn January 6, 1921. Sisters of the Grand lmchess: — Princess Marie- Adelaide, born June 14, 1894 : Princess Hilda, born Fcbmary 15, 1897 : Priaceti Antoinette, born October 7, 1899 ; Princess Elisabeth, born .901; Princess Sophie, born February 14, 1902.

The early history of Luxemburg may be divided into lour ]>eriods. from 963 to 144.;, when the country was part of the Holy Roman Empire ; from 1443 to 1506, the Burgundian period ; from 1506 to 1714, I period ; and from 1714 to 1795, the Austrian period. From 1795 to 1815 the Duchy was French. The < ongress of Vienna made the Duchy into a <;rand-duchy, and from 1815 to 1866 the Grand-duchy was included in the dissolved Germanic Confederation. By the Treaty of London. Mav 11, 1867, it was declared neutral territory, and its integrity and independence were guaranteed.

Constitution and Government— The < institution now in force was

proclaimed on October 17, 1868 : in 1H19 some important changes were in- troduced into it Thus the Constituent Assembly decided that the sovereign j>ower resided in the Nation (Article 32) ; that all secret treaties were abolished Aitiole 37) ; that the deputies are to be elected on the basis of universal suffrage, pure and simple, by scrutiny of lists, according to the rules of proportional representation and in conformity with the principle of the smallest electoral quotient

The country is divided into four electoral districts: the South, North, Centre, aud Hast. In order to qualify as an elector it is necessary to be a citizen (male or female) of Luxemburg and to have completed 21 years of ag<; ; to be eligible for election it is necessary to have completed 25 years of age and to fulfil the conditions lequired for active electorate. The electors may be called upon to record their votes by means of a referendum or plebis- cite in all case* and under the conditions to be determined by law (Article 52 . The Members of the Chamber of Deputies receive a salary which may nor surpass 4,00<» fanes per annum ; they are also entitled to receive a travelling allowance (Artie!'

The Chamber of Deputies' consists of 48 members, elected October, 1919. Tlie state of the |>arties is as follows : — Catholics, 27 ; National Party, 3 ; Liberals, 7 ; Socialists, 9 : Popular Party, 2.

The head of tin- State takes put in the legislative power, exercises the executive power, and has a certain part in the judicial power. The Consti- tution leaves to the sovereign the right to organise his Government, which consists of a Minister of State, who is President of the < lovernment, and of at least three Directors-General. The Cabinet, appointed April, 1921. is composed as follows : —

Mini*/tr of Slate and President of Government. — Emile Renter. Dirator-General of fjmnncc — A. Neycns.

Dirt: Jo r-Gentral of Commerce, Industry, and Labour. — M. Leidenbac/i. Director-General of Justice and Public Works. — A. Dircelor-G'-ncral <>/ Agriculture and Son"l Wtlfar*. — Raymond d>- IVnha. Besides the Government therr is a Council of State. It deliberat- ed laws r>rtd bills, on amendments that might be