GOVERNMENT. Turkey is an absolute theocratic monarchy, the executive and religious authority being vested in the Sultan (Padishah), who re gards himself as the successor of the caliphs. The succession is vested in the eldest male mem ber of the House of Othman. The form of gov ernment takes its inspiration from the Koran and the opinions and sayings of Mohammed, and has been from time to time supplemented by de crees of the various sultans. Attempts to reform the Constitution and bring it into conformity the constitutions in Western European tries have invariably failed. The will of the Sultan is absolute so long as it does not con flict with the teachings of the Koran. The Sul tan is assisted in the administration of affairs by the Grand Vizier, whom he appoints, and who is in turn assisted 1w a Cabinet of 10 members, consisting of the Ministers of Foreign Affairs, Finance, Justice, War, etc. There are also a Ministry of the Civil List (which has charge of the Imperial domains) and the Ministry of Po lice. The public functionaries are divided into three classes: those connected with the laws and cults, the governmental department, and the army and navy. The functions of the legislative branch of government are performed by the Sul tan together with the Grand Vizier and the Sheikh ul-Islam, who is also an appointee of the Sultan, and is the direct head of the Church. The appointment of the Sheikh ttl-Islam, however, is nominally subject to the approval of the Cie= (q.v.), an assembly of the clergy and leading jurists and educators of the Empire. This body is called together by the Mufti (see below). For purposes of local government, the Empire is divided into vilayets (pashaliks), ruled by Valls, or Governor-Generals, appointed by the Sultan. Each Vali is assisted by a provincial council. A few of the provinces are designated as mutessar The minor divisions are termed sanjaks, kazas, etc., and are under the supervision of
officials appointed by the Valis. The Sultan's subjects possess freedom of their persons and nominally equality before the law. The judi cial department is in a sense an adjunct of the executive, all executive officials being vested with authority to perform all duties connected with the administration of justice. The learned class of Turks form three sections: those in the service of the cults (Imam), the law expounders and the judges (Kadi). The ideas and practice of justice, both secular and religious, are based on the Koran, and cases are decided according to the compilation which exists of the decisions that have been rendered during the centuries. The highest court is the Court of Ap peals in Constantinople, with two chambers. There may be mentioned also the civil courts, criminal courts. and the commercial courts, whose de cisions are based on the Code de Commerce. The commercial courts are formed of a president, two judges, and also two merchant judges se lected from the colonies of foreigners. The lack of system and the prevalence of corruption in the judicial branch of government have necessitated measures called 'Capitulations,' which provide that all foreigners settled in the country who are accused of crime or misdemeanor shall be tried only before courts presided over by their respec tive consuls. Litigation between foreigners of different nationalities is heard in the court of the defendant, and eases between foreigners and Turks are tried in local courts, to which the for eign consuls have free access. This affords a guaranty that such trials will be legally con ducted.