Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/842

 790 CZECHOSLOVAKIA

the State, is supreme commander of the armed forces, and can declare war with the consent of Parliament. He appoints the higher officers and officials, exercises the right of reprieve, and is himself amenable to the laws only on a charge of high treason. He also appoints and recalls Ministers. The Con- stitution guarantees freedom of the press and of speech, and safeguards racial minorities, to whom it assures the maintenance of their schools.

The franchiso is open to all citizens, without distinction of sex, who are over 21, while all citizens over 30 are eligible for election. The electoral system is based on proportional representation.

The Constitution regulates the parliamentary elections on a ' closed scrutiny' basis, the votes being in favour of parties, not of candidates. The allocation of electoral areas is as follows : — Bohemia, 5 ; Moravia, 2 ; Teschen District, 1 ; Slovakia, 7.

The number of administrative districts to be set up is as follows : — Bohemia, 10 ; Moravia, 5 ; Silesia, 1 ; Slovakia, 6.

At the elections held in April 1920, the following parties were returned to Parliament : —

Senate : — Socialists, 68 ; National Parties, 75. (Czecho-Slovaks, 103 ; Germans, 37 ; Magyars, 3.)

Chamber of Deputies: — Socialists, 141 ; National Parties, 137. (Czecho- slovaks, 199 ; Germans, 72 ; Magyars, 7.)

President. — Thomas G. Masaryk (born in 1850 in Hodonin, in Moravia). Elected May 28, 1920.

The Czecho-slovak Government, reconstituted on September 15, 1920, consists of the following Ministers : —

Prime Minister. — Dr. Cerny".

Minister of Foreign Affairs.— Dr. E. Benes.

Minister of the Interior. — Dr. Cerny.

Minister of Finance. — Dr. Hanosek.

Minister of Commerce. — (Vacant April, 1921. )

Minister of Public Works. — M. Kovarlk.

Minister of Food Supplies — L. J'

Minister of Railways. — Dr. Burger.

Minister of Health. — Dr. Procluizka.

Minister of Social Welfare. — Dr. J. (7nil»r.

Minister of Justice. — Dr. A. PopeUca

Minister of Agriculture. — Dr. Vlad. BroUtic,

Minister of Education. — Dr. .1. SrUSta,

Minister of National Defence. — O. Husuk.

Minister of Posts and Teltgrapka. — Dr. M. Faika.

Minister for the Unification of taws. Dr. V. F.ijnor.

Area and Population.— The Czechoslovak Republic consists of Bo- hernia, Moravia, Slovakia, Silesia, and autonomous Ruthenia. its frontiers have been defined by the Peace Treaties with Germany, Austria, and Hungary, with the exception of a few districts, notably the Teschen coal area, in which plebiscite was to decide its allegiance. The intention of holding plebiscite was, however, abandoned, and the Ambassadors' Conference, on July 28, 1920, divided the Teschen district between Czecho-Slovakia and Poland. Theaiva