Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/310

 258 THE BRITISH EMPIRE: — EGYPT

General Assembly, and Provincial Councils. But these bodies were mainly consultative and the Khedive and his Ministers retained most of the legis- lative power. The above Law was replaced in July, 1913, by the present Organic and Electoral Laws, by which for the Legislative Council and General Assembly was substituted a new body called the Legislative Assembly. This consists of (i) the Ministers, (ii) 66 elected members, and (iii) 17 members nominated by the Government to represent certain minorities. The elections are indirect : every 50 electors choose an elector-delegate, and the electors- delegate elect the members of the Assembly, but are liable to be recalled before any fresh exercise of their functions. The members of this Assembly sit for six years, their numbers being renewed one-third at a time every two years : they also receive payment. The Assembly can initiate legislation and must be consulted on all measures relating to loans, land-tax assessment, or modifications of the railway or irrigation systems. The Government, how- ever, is not bound by the resolutions of the Assembly, and, in the event of a disagreement between the two about any proposed law, the Government can eventually enact the law in such form as it may think fit. The Assembly has the right of veto on new direct, personal or land taxes, which cannot be imposed without its sanction. The ordinary session of the Assembly is from November 1 to May 31.

The Provincial Councils were endowed in 1909 with the powers of apply- ing bye-laws, authorising public-markets, fixing the number and pay of ghafirs (village watchmen), and authorising the creation of ezbas (hamlets). They are the local authorities in connection with elementary vernacular education and trade schools. They consist of two elected representatives from each Markaz. The Mudir is the ex-officio President of the Council.

Egypt Proper is administratively divided into 5 governorships (muhafzas) of principal towns, and 14 mudirias or provinces, subdivided into districts or Markazes. In 1890 the Powers consented to a decree constituting a Municipality in Alexandria, with power to impose local taxes. 1

In thirteen towns (Mansura, Medinet el-Fayum, Tanta, Zagazig, Da- manhur, Beni-SueT, Mahalla el-Kubra, Minya, Mit Ghamr, Zifta, Kafr el- Zayat, Benha, and Port Said), Mixed Commissions have been formed with power to impose taxes on residents who have given an express consent to be taxed for municipal purposes.

In 41 other towns a third class of town council (Local Commissions) exists, but, in general, there is no power to impose local taxes, the revenue being derived from grants from the central Government, and receipts from water supply, slaughter houses, &c. During recent years, however, 22 of the Local Commissions have, with the express consent of foreigners and Egyptians, imposed local taxation for municipal purposes.

Governorships.

Mudirias.

1.

Cairo.

Lower Egypt : —

Upper Egypt :—

■2.

Alexandria.

1. Qalyubiya.

1. Giza.

3.

Suez Canal

(Port

Said.—

2. Menufiya.

2. Beni-Suef.

Isniailia).

3, Gharbiya.

3. Faiyuni.

4.

Suez.

4. Sharqiya.

5. Daqaniiya.

4. Minya.

5.

Damietta.

5. Asyiit.

6. Beheira.

6. Girga.

7. Qena.

8. Aswan.

Area and Population.

The total area of Kgypt proper, including tho Libyan Desert, tbr region between the Nile and the Red Sea, and the Sinai Peninsula, bul 1 In Egypt no foreigner may be taxed wilhout the consent of his Government.