finance, bills on any subject may originate in either house, and at
the initiative of the Government or of private members, though in
practice all proposals of importance emanate from the Quirinal. The
ministers appear regularly on the floor of the two chambers, to
advocate the measures of the Government and to reply to inquiries. The
right of interpellation is not infrequently exercised, though the
debate and vote following a challenge of the ministry fall regularly
after an interval of some days, instead of at once, as in the French
system, thus guarding somewhat against precipitancy of action. A
measure which is passed in one house is transmitted to the other for
consideration. After enactment in both houses, it is presented to the
king for approval, which, in practice, is never withheld. A bill
rejected by the crown, or by either house, may not be reintroduced
during the same session. Votes are taken by rising and sitting, by
division, or by secret ballot. The third of these methods is
obligatory in all final votes on enactments, and on measures of a
personal character. It is specifically enjoined that deputies (p. 381)
shall represent the nation as a whole, and not the districts from
which they are chosen, and to this end no binding instructions may be
imposed upon them by the electors.[558] Except when taken in the
actual commission of an offense, deputies are exempt from arrest
during the continuance of a session, and they may not be proceeded
against in criminal matters without the previous consent of the
Chamber. Neither senators nor representatives may be called to account
for opinions expressed, or for votes cast, in the performance of their
official functions.

[Footnote 557: Arts. 52-54, 59, 62. Dodd, Modern
Constitutions, II., 12-13. In practice the
requirement of the presence of an absolute majority
of members is sometimes disregarded.]

[Footnote 558: Art. 41. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
II., 11.]

IV. THE JUDICIARY

*420. General Aspects.*--The provisions of the _Statuto_ respecting the
administration of justice are brief and general. Justice, it is
declared, emanates from the king and is administered in his name by
the judges whom he appoints. These judges, after three years of
service, are irremovable. Proceedings of courts in civil cases and
hearings in criminal cases are requ