wer might seem here to be sufficiently
guarded against, but in point of fact, as was demonstrated by the
history of the notable parliamentary deadlock of 1897--1904[657], the
government can be, and has been, made to run year after year upon
virtually the sole basis of the article mentioned. It is only fair to
add, however, that, but for some such practical resource at the
disposal of the executive, constitutional government might long since
have been broken down completely by the recurrent obstructive tactics
of the warring nationalities.

[Footnote 656: Dodd, Modern Constitutions, I., 81.]

[Footnote 657: See p. 479.]

*511. Amendment.*--The constitution promulgated March 4, 1849, made
provision for a definite process of amendment. Upon declaration by the
legislative power that any particular portion of the fundamental law
stood in need of revision, the chambers were to be dissolved and newly
elected ones were to take under consideration the proposed amendment,
adopting it if a two-thirds majority could be obtained in each house.
Upon all such proposals the veto of the Emperor, however, was
absolute. Neither the diploma of October 20, 1860, nor the patent of
February 26, 1861, contained any stipulation upon the subject, nor did
any one of the fundamental laws of 1867 as originally adopted. By act
of April 2, 1873, however, passed at the time when the lower house (p. 462)
of the Reichsrath was being converted into an assembly directly
representative of the people, the Law concerning Imperial Representation
was so modified as to be made to include a specific stipulation with
respect to constitutional amendment in general. Under the terms of
this enactment all portions of the written constitution are subject to
amendment at the hand of the Reichsrath. As in European countries
generally, no essential differentiation of powers that are constituent
from those that are legislative is attempted. The process of revision
is made even easier than that prescribed by the ill-fated instrument
of 1849. It differs in no respect from that of ordinary legislation
save that proposed amendments require a two-thirds vote in each of the
chambers instead of a simple majority. Since 1873 there have been
adopted several amendments, of which the most notable were those of
1896 and 1907 relative to the election of representatives.

*512. The Rights of Citizens.*--For all natives of the various kingdoms
a