The Chamber of Deputies is composed of 503 members chosen ley citizens over twenty-one years of age who can read and write, and who have passed an examination in the elementary branches of the school curriculum. The exami nation, however, is not required of professional men, members of academies, college graduates, those who pay a direct tax of not less than nineteen and four-fifths lire (about four dollars), and those who pay annual rents of a certain amount. Persons actively enlisted in the mili tary or naval service are not permitted to vote. Since 1391 the members have been chosen by districts and on single ticket. The only qualifi cation for membership in the Chamber of Dep uties is the attainment of the age of t•enty-five years. Disqualified, however, are priests: in active service, and all officials in the pay of the Govern ment, with a few exceptions. Army and navy offi cers, ministers, and certain other high function aries to the number of forty are eligible. The ten ure of the Deputies is five years, unless the Cham ber is dissolved. Neither Senators nor Depu ties receive compensation for their services, but are allowed free passes over the railroads of Italy.
The powers and privileges of the two Chambers are substantially the same, except that the Senate is a court for the trial of Ministers who are impeached by the Chamber of Deputies. for the trial of eases of treason and attempts against the safety of the State, and for the trial of its own members. Senators and Deputies are privileged from arrest unless with the consent of their respective Chambers. except in ease of flagrant crime, and enjoy absolute freedom of speech while in the discharge of their duties. The Senate elects its minor officers, but its president and \ ice-president are appointed by the King; the Chamber of Deputies elects all of its officers, and both Houses are the judges of the election and qualifications of their members. The King may dissolve the Chamber of Deputies at any time, but he must order new elections and summon the now Chamber within four months. Dissolution of the Chamber has the effect of proroguing the Senate. The sessions of both Chambers begin and end at the same time, and must be public. A quorum is an absolute majority of the mem bers; every project of law must be referred to one of the bureaus of the Chamber in which it originated, and must receive the approval of both Chambers and the King before it becomes law.
The administrative system, both central and local, is fashioned largely after that of France. }historical subdivisions have been replaced by ar tificial areas, and local self-government is super seded by a centralized administration. The power of the higher administrative officials to issue ordinances for the purpose of supplementing the statutes has been carried even further than in France. and in many cases has the effect of sus
pending or displacing the statutes. An organ of restraint upon the action of the Government in this respect is found in the Council of State and the several Courts of Accounts. The former is chiefly an advisory organ, but it also has power to prevent arbitrary action of the central Govern ment in the removal of local officials; the Courts of Accounts exercise supervision over various activities of the administration, and their ap proval is necessary to the validity of all decrees and orders which involve the expenditure of more than 2000 lire. The seat of government of Italy is Rome. From 1865 to IS71 the capital was Florence. which had superseded Turin.
For the purpose of local government Italy is divided into artificial circumscriptions called provinces, circondari, mandamenti, and communes. The chief executive officer in each province is the prefect, appointed by the King, and under the control of the Minister of the Interior. He is therefore the agent of the central Government, and in this as in other respects corresponds to his French prototype. He is charged with the publication and execution of the laws; takes measures for the public safety; disposes of the armed forces; issues police ordinances; and super vises and directs the subordinate officials of the province. To advise and assist him in the dis charge of his duties a prefectural council over which he presides is provided. The deliberative as sembly of the province is the Provincial Council, chosen for five years by an electorate which is somewhat restricted, but which has been extended. The size of the Council varies according to the population of the province. it meets at the capital of the province once a year; it elects its own officers; and all resident taxpayers are eligi ble to its membership. Its sessions are opened by the prefect, who has the right to preside over them and to suspend them for a limited period. It has a wide power of local legislation relating to such matters as the creation of highways, es tablishment of societies, public institutions, the care of provincial property, schools, poor relief, the budget, loans, besides a supervisory authority over the civil service. There is also in each province a provincial deputation elected by the Provincial Council and presided over by the prefect. it represents the Council during its recess, superintends the enforcement of its resolu tions, prepares the budget, exercises a disci plinary control over inferior officers, and per forms a variety of local duties under the direction of the Council.