GOVERNMENT. Since 1S14 Sweden has been united with Norway under a common king. but each is in effect a separate kingdom with its own government. The fundamental laws of Sweden have never been embodied in any single written constitution, but consist of various enactments of the Diet from 1809 to 1866. By the fundamental laws a limited monarchy is constituted, at the head of which is a king, who is required to be a member of the Lutheran Church and who is bound by oath to observe the laws of the land. By the law of succession women are ex cluded from the throne. In case of failure of succession the King is to be chosen by the Swedish and Norwegian Diets acting separately. The King has the exclusive right of legislation as regards trade, commerce, manufacturing. mines, and forests. He is also empowered to issue police regulations and to make rules concerning va grancy, sanitation, protection against fire. etc. In legislating on other matters he must act with the consent of the Diet. He possesses the riebt to declare war and make peace upon the advice of a Council of State representing both monar chies. He nominates higher officials, military and civil, negotiates treaties with foreign coun tries, and presides in the Supreme Court. He is advised and in some manner assisted by a Council of State consisting at present of eleven Ministers, at the head of which is the Minister of State. They have seats in the Diet with the privilege of debate and the right to initiate legislation. They sometimes resign in case of serious disagreement with the Diet, but the principle of Ministerial responsibility is not yet freely recognized.
The National Parliament or Diet (Riksdag) consists of two Chambers, both of which are rep resentative in principle. The Upper Chamber consists at present of 150 members chosen for a term of nine years by the provincial legislatures (Lundstings),25 in number, and by the municipal governments of those towns which are not rep resented in the provincial assemblies. These towns are Stockholm, Ghteborg, Norr kiiping, and Gefle. The members are distributed on the basis of one to every 30.000 of the popula tion, and are required to be 35 years of age and in the possession for at least three years prier to their election of property of the taxable value of about $22,000, or an annual income of about $1100. They receive no compensation for their
services. The Lower Chamber consists at present of 230 members chosen for a term of three years. Of these, SO are chosen by the towns and 150 by the rural districts. The rural members are dis tributed on the basis of one member to every 40.000 inhabitants, while the towns are allowed one member for every 10,000 of the population. All native Swedes 21 years of age possessing prop erty of the taxable value of about $280, or who cultivate for a period of five years a certain amount of land, or who pay an annual income tax on an income of about $225 are qualified voters. Any elector twenty-five years of age is qualified for membership in the Lower Chamber. The num ber of electors in 1899 was 339,876, less than 7 per cent. of the population, and but 40 per cent. of these actually voted. The members of the Second Chamber receive compensation.
The union of Norway and Sweden under the same executive makes necessary some provision for the administration of those affairs which are common to both monarchies, such as the conduct of their foreign relations. In this domain the King is given power to act for both countries, but his action is subject to the approval of the joint Council of State. Thus he may declare war and make peace, send and recall ambassadors, use ships of war, etc., with the consent of the joint council. This does not. however, destroy the individuality of either nation as regards foreign affairs, since the King may conclude treaties which affect but one of his kingdoms. Matteis of common interest not within the power of the King are regulated by concurrent action of the two Diets. For the purposes of local adminis tration Sweden is divided into 24 lams o• prov inces, each under the supervision of a prefect nominated by the King. In each province there is a general council or Laud.sting. which regulates internal affairs. The city of Stockholm, the capital, constitutes a separate administrative di. vision. In the communes. there is almost com plete local self-government, all taxpayers being voters. Some of the communes have primary assemblies very much like the town meetings of New- England. while those which are larger and more populous have municipal councils. In the parishes there are local assemblies for regulating ecclesiastical affairs.