s the portfolio of the Interior. He is named by the king, and
inasmuch as, by reason of the multiplicity of Italian political (p. 370)
parties, there is often no clearly distinguished "leader of the
opposition," such as all but invariably stands ready to assume office
in Great Britain, in the making of the appointment there is room for
the exercise of considerable discretion. All remaining members of the
ministry are designated by the crown, on nomination of the premier. In
accordance with the provisions of a law of February 12, 1888, each
minister is assisted by an under-secretary of state.

[Footnote 541: Separated from Finance in 1889.]

All ministers and under-secretaries possess the right to appear on the
floor of either of the legislative chambers, and to be heard upon
request; but no one of them is entitled to vote in either body unless
he is a member thereof.[542] To be eligible for appointment to a
portfolio or to an under-secretaryship it is not necessary that a man
be a member of either chamber; but if an appointee is not in
possession of such membership it is customary for him to seek the next
seat that falls vacant in the Deputies, unless in the meantime he
shall have been created a senator. In point of fact, the ministers are
selected regularly from among the members of Parliament, and
predominantly from the Chamber of Deputies. Only rarely has the
premiership devolved upon a senator. Ministers of war and of marine,
being chosen largely by reason of technical qualifications, are
frequently members of the Senate by special appointment.

[Footnote 542: Art. 66. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
II., 13.]

*407. The Ministry: Organization and Functions.*--The internal
organization of the ministry--the interrelations of the several
departments and the relations sustained by each minister with the
premier--are regulated largely by a decree of March 28, 1867,
promulgated afresh, with minor modifications, August 25, 1876. Among
matters which are required to be brought before the ministerial
council are all projects of law which are to be submitted to the
chambers, all treaties, all conflicts of administrative jurisdiction,
all proposals relating to the status of the Church, petitions from the
chambers, and nominations of senators, diplomatic representatives, and
a wide range of administrative and judicial functionaries. By law
there is enumerated further a