THE PARLIAMENT.
Although the Parliament with its two Cham bers in its construction resembles that of France in 1830, it is different from the latter in its evolution of more liberal customs.
The Chamber of Deputies, composed of 506 members, begun on a restricted electoral basis, acquired i democratic character after the reform of 1882, which established a limited•member ship, with the requisite of elementary education. This reform, still has an influence on the for mation of the parties. From the first these took the name of Right and Left; the former, the party of order, had the predominance until 1876, and endeavored to bring about national unity and to establish financial equilibrium, and to 'proclaim the secular attitude toward the papacy; the latter, as the party of action, en deavored above all to promote the more demo cratic tendencies and to improve the economic condition of the country. But these two par tieg subsequently became subdivided into groups whic•inade the formation•of a Cabinet of har monious members very difficult, particularly when, in latter times, a strong group of social ists entered the Cabinet, in 1900.
The Upper Chamber, although founded on a basis of life tenure, consists largely of high officials. It has always maintained a liberal at titude; and even if it has sometimes opposed administrative reforms it has never attacked more important political reforms. This con nection between the two branches of the Parlia ment has helped to modify many provisions of the Senate. In 1916 there were 416 members of the Upper Chamber, including the six who were also members of the royal family.
The Senate, compared with the other Cham ber, has more restricted attributes in regard to finance, although in practice it has several times exercised the power of amendment. It retains special judicial functions as ancient traditional survival of preceding statutes. It may in fact constitute itself a high court of justice for the consideration of cases of ministers accused by the other Chamber, and also for cases of polit ical crime and where its own members are ac cused (Statute, art. 36). It may accept in the first case the special judicial function (which is paralleled in the American Senate in regard to impeachment of the President, but it cannot be justified in the other two cases, which savor of privilege). With this exception the two
branches of Parliament have identical rights in the exercise of the legal function; in the simul taneity of convocation, and in the closing of their sessions, which depends on the will of the king.
But there is a notable difference as regards the very existence of these two branches of Par liament which is shown in the nomination of senators and the dissolution of the Chamber.
The Italian Statute (art. 33) in the organiza tion of the Upper Chamber, requires as mem bers those holding the most important positions in the public service and in social life. This characteristic feature gives to life membership a different stamp from that of the French Char ter of 1830, from that of Prussia, in 1859, and from every other monarchical charter.
The 21 categories, in fact, constitute a true representation, with a species of gradual select ive choice, because grades in membership are presupposed. The standard of nomination adopted by the Crown has followed the demo cratic evolution of modern society, admitting as members of the Upper Chamber even those who give expression to advanced views. On the other hand, the Senate has understood its posi tion toward the extension of the suffrage through the composition of the Upper Cham ber. With remarkable instances of initiative it has more than once even attempted to reform its own organization, introducing the elective element as a primordial basis.
This shows how the Senate has understood the spirit of the times. It has, besides, on many occasions, stretched the exercise of its power of approval to the point of disapproving the nomination of certain senators, according to a standard which seemed exaggerated to some minds. With the organic decree of 14 Nov. 1901, the minister declared explicitly his right to propose the nominees for senator; but if he thus fulfils his ministerial responsibility, it does not lessen the supreme authority of the Senate, exercised by virtue of a constitutional function, and which contains an exclusive right to decide in regard to the merits of its members (Statute, art. 60).