Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/891

 CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT 889

from citizens 40 years old, one-third retiring every three years. The election of the Senators is indirect, and is made by an electoral body composed (1) of delegates chosen by the Municipal Council of each commune in proportion to the population ; and (2) of the Deputies, Councillors-General, and District Councillors of the department. Besides the 225 Departmental Senators elected in this way, there were, according to the law of 1875, 75 Senators elected for life by the united two Chambers ; but by the Senate Bill of 1884 it was enacted that vacancies arising among the Life Senatorships would be filled by the election of ordinary nine-years Senators, the department which should have the right to the vacant seat to be determined by lot. The Princes of deposed dynasties ar- precluded from sitting in either House.

Senate, elected on January 11, 1920 : Radicals, 120 ; Republicans of the Left, 58 ; Progressives, 23 ; Conservative*, 20 ; Liberal Republicans, 14 ; Socialist Republicans, 2 ; Unified Socialist-;, 2.

The Senate and Chamber of Deputies assemble every year on the second Tuesday iu January, unless a previous summons is made by tlie IVsi lent of the Republic,- and they must remain in session at least five months out of the twelve. The President is bound to convoke them if the demand is made by one-halt' of the number of members composing each Chamber. The President can adjourn the Chambers, but the a ljonrnment cannot exceed the term of a month, nor occur more than twice in the same session.

Bills may be presented either in the Chamber or Senate by the Government, or on the initiative of private members. In the first case they are remitted to the bureaux for examination ; in the second, they are first submitted to a commission of parliamentary initiative. Financial laws must be first presented to and voted by the Chamber of D puties.

The Senate, constituted as a High Court of Justice, tries cases of attempt against the safety of the State or of plotting to change the form of government.

Senators and Deputies are paid 27,000 francs (1,080/.) a year and the Presidents of the two Chambers receive allowances tor the expense of entertainment. Members of both Chambers travel free on all rail- ways by means of a small annual payment. The dotation of the President of the Republic is 1,200,000 francs (48.000/.), with a further allowance of 1.200,000 francs for his expenses. On January 1, 1905, a fund was instituted for pensions to ex-Deputies, or their widows and orphans. It is supported by contribution* from Deputies (deducted from their pay) as well as by gifts and legacies.

France has, besides, a special institution under the name of Conseil d'lttal, which was introduced by Napoleon I., and has been maintained since. It is presided over by the. Minister of Justice or (in his absence) by a vice-president, and is composed of Councillors, Masters of Requests (Maitres des Requetes), and Auditors, all appointed by the President of the Republic. Its duty is to give opinion upon such questions, chiefly those connected with administration, as may be submitted to it by the Government. It is judge in the last resort in administrative suits, aud it prepares the rules for the public administration.

II. Local Government. For administrative purposes France is divided into 90 departments including the 'territory of Belfort ' (remnant of the department of Haut- Rhin). Since 1881 the three departments of Algeria are also treated