INTERPELLATION. A method of 'Euro pean legislative procedure. whereby members of the legislature interrogate the Ministers in re gard to the policy and measures of the Govern ment. Its primary purpose is to force the Chamber to pass judgment upon the policy of the Cabinet. This form of interrogating the .Nlinistry occupies an important place in the procedure of France and Italy, and also occasionally resorted (I) 111 litlicr rontinental countries of Europe which have it purely parliamentary form of government. Any member of Parliament is free to bring for ward an interpellat ion without regard to the wishes of the •Aliiiist•y. The legislative liod3. fixes the day on which the Alinistry are to be interpellated on It given subject. The 1ilin isters then prepare their answers and make ready for a defense of their policy against the expected attack. Any member may reply to a and a general debate may follow. as well as motions which may result in the resigna tion of the Ministry. In France, of about twenty Alinistrics which have resigned in consequence of an adverse vote in the Chamber of Deputies, ten have 110111. 011 flet01111t of motions growing
out Of int erpel la t ions. Int erpellat ions a rouse more general interest than the debates 011 im portant measures. and one if the chief sources of a :Minister's strength is his skill in answering them. Nlinisters are not, however. obliged to answer interpellations when such au answer might !um e prejudicial to the public interest, as in the ease of diplomatic negotiations. It often happens that the _Nlini.try b; glad to he inter adlated a full disclosure of the Government's • s a.
policy may strengthen its position in the estima• that of the Chambers.
lit Italy the method of interpellation exists in sobstantially the spine form as in France. The rules of the Imperial German lfeielistag also pro vide for interpellations; but since the ('hancellor, t11 W110111 tilCy are in theory addressed. has no seat in the Reichstag, and never resigns on ae count of disapproval, the is of litle sil.mificance in German parliamentary procedure.
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