ation, Sec. 13. Dodd, Ibid., I.,
81.]

[Footnote 673: For a collection of the rules of
order of the Austrian Parliament see K. and O.
Neisser, Die Geschaeftsordnung des Abgeordnetenhaus
des Reichsrates, 2 vols. (Vienna, 1909).]

*525. The Reichsrath: Powers.*--The powers of the Reichsrath are, in
general, those ordinarily belonging to a parliamentary body. According
to fundamental law of 1867, they comprise all matters which relate to
the rights, obligations, and interests of the provinces represented in
the chambers, in so far as these matters are not required to be
handled conjointly with the proper representatives of the Hungarian
portion of the monarchy. The Reichsrath examines and ratifies or
rejects commercial treaties, and likewise political treaties which
place a fiscal burden on the Empire or any portion of it, impose (p. 474)
obligations upon individual citizens, or involve any change of
territorial status. It makes provision for the military and naval
establishments. It enacts the budget and approves all taxes and
duties. It regulates the monetary system, banking, trade, and
communication. It legislates on citizenship, public health, individual
rights, education, criminal justice and police regulation, the duties
and interrelations of the provinces, and a wide variety of other
things. It exercises the right of legalizing or annulling Imperial
ordinances which, under urgent circumstances, may be promulgated by
the Emperor with the provisional force of law when the chambers are
not in session.[674] Such ordinances may not introduce any alteration
in the fundamental law, impose any lasting burden upon the treasury,
or alienate territory. They must be issued, if issued at all, under
the signature of all of the ministers, and they lose their legal force
if the Government does not lay them before the lower chamber within
the first four weeks of its next ensuing session, or if either of the
two houses refuses its assent thereto. Each of the houses may
interpellate the ministers upon all matters within the scope of their
powers, may investigate the administrative acts of the Government,
demand information from the ministers concerning petitions presented
to the houses, may appoint commissions, to which the ministers must
give all necessary information, and may give expression to its views
in the form of addresses or res