e, and that it
shall be continually responsible to the lower chamber of Parliament,
has been so long observed in practice that it is now regarded as an
inflexible law of the constitution. Under these limitations, however,
the king approves and promulgates the laws, grants pardons and
commutes sentences, declares war, commands all military and naval
forces, concludes treaties, issues ordinances, creates senators, and
makes appointments to all offices of state.[540] By the _Statuto_ it
is provided that treaties involving financial obligations or
alterations of the territory of the state shall be effective only
after receiving the sanction of the legislative chambers. In practice,
treaties of all kinds are submitted regularly for such approval, save
only such as comprise military conventions or foreign alliances. The
power of the veto exists, but it is in practice never used. Rarely
does the king attend the sessions of the cabinet, in which the
policies of the government are discussed and its measures formulated
and, save through the designation of the premier, in the event of a
cabinet crisis, and within the domain of foreign relations, the royal
power may be said to be brought to bear in direct manner upon the
affairs of state only incidentally. As head of the nation, however,
and visible token of its hard-won unification, the monarch fulfills a
distinctly useful function. The reigning family, and especially the
present sovereign, Victor Emmanuel III., is extremely popular
throughout the country; so that, although in Italy, as elsewhere among
European monarchies, there is an avowed republican element, there is
every indication that royalty will prove an enduring institution.

[Footnote 540: Arts. 5-8. Dodd, Modern
Constitutions, II., 5. Dupriez, Les Ministres, I.,
292-297.]

*406. The Ministry: Composition.*--From what has been said it follows
that the ministry in Italy, as in Great Britain and France,
constitutes the actual executive. Nominally it consists of heads of
departments, although occasionally a member is designated without
portfolio. Of departments there are at present eleven, as follows:
Foreign affairs; War; Marine; the Interior; Finance; the
Treasury;[541] Public Instruction; Public Works; Justice and
Ecclesiastical Affairs; Commerce, Industry, and Agriculture; and Posts
and Telegraphs. Ordinarily the premier, or "president of the council,"
occupie