ndoned.[669]

[Footnote 669: As has been pointed out, the pledge
was redeemed in 1907 by a measure fixing the
minimum number of life peers at 150 and the maximum
at 170. See p. 466.]

So far as practicable, the electoral constituencies in the various
provinces are arranged to preserve the distinction between urban and
rural districts and to comprise racial groups that are essentially
homogeneous. In regions, as Bohemia, where the population is
especially mixed separate constituencies and registers are maintained
for the electors of each nationality, and a man may vote on only the
register of his own race and for a candidate of that race. Germans,
thus, are obliged to vote for Germans, Czechs for Czechs, Poles for
Poles; so that, while there may be a contest between a German Clerical
and a German Liberal or between a Young Czech and a Radical Czech,
there can be none between Germans and Czechs, or between Poles and
Ruthenes. In general, each district returns but one representative.
The 36 Galician districts, however, return two apiece. Each elector
there, as elsewhere, votes for but one candidate, the device
permitting the representation of minorities. The population comprising
a constituency varies from 26,693 in Salsburg to 68,724 in Galicia.
The average is 49,676.[670]

[Footnote 670: On the electoral law of 1907 see W.
Beaumont, Le suffrage universel en Autriche: la loi
du 26 janvier 1907, in _Annales des Sciences
Politiques_, Sept., 1907; H. Hantich, Le suffrage
universel en Autriche, in _Questions Diplomatiques
et Coloniales_, Feb. 16, 1907; M. E. Zweig, La
reforme electorale en Autriche, in _Revue du Droit
Public_, April-June and July-Sept., 1907.]

*524. The Reichsrath: Sessions and Procedure.*--By the law of 1867 no
limit was fixed for the period of service of the parliamentary
representative. The life of the Reichsrath, and consequently the
tenure of the individual deputy, was terminated only by a dissolution.
Under provision of an amendment of April 2, 1873, however, members of
the lower chamber are elected for a term of six years, at the
expiration of which period, as also in the event of a dissolution, a
new election must be held. Representatives are indefinitely eligible
for re-