thin the
competence of the king in council to dissolve either or both of the
chambers, but in such an event a general election must be ordered
forthwith, and the new Riksdag is required to be assembled within
three months after the dissolution.[831] The president and
vice-presidents of both houses are named by the crown; otherwise the
chambers are permitted to choose their officials and to manage their
affairs independently. It is specifically forbidden that either house,
or any committee, shall deliberate upon or decide any question in the
presence of the sovereign. The powers of the Riksdag cover the full
range of civil and criminal legislation; but no measure may become law
without the assent of the crown. In other words, the veto which the
king possesses is absolute. At the same time, the king is forbidden,
save with the consent of the Riksdag, to impose any tax, to contract
any loan, to dispose of crown property, to alienate any portion of the
kingdom, to change the arms or flag of the realm, to modify the
standard or weight of the coinage, or to introduce any alteration in
the national constitution. Measures may be proposed, not only by the
Government, but by members of either house. The relations between the
two houses are peculiarly close. At each regular session there are
constituted certain joint committees whose function is the preparation
and preliminary consideration of business for the attention of both
chambers. Most important among these committees is that on laws,
which, in the language of the constitution, "elaborates projects
submitted to it by the houses for the improvement of the civil,
criminal, municipal, and ecclesiastical laws."[832] Other such
committees are those on the constitution, on finance, on
appropriations, and on the national bank.

[Footnote 831: Art. 109. Dodd, Modern
Constitutions, II., 249.]

[Footnote 832: Art. 53. Ibid., II., 234.]

*662. Powers.*--The stipulations of the constitution which relate to
finance are precise. "The ancient right of the Swedish people to tax
themselves," it is affirmed, "shall be exercised by the Riksdag
alone."[833] The king is required at each regular session to lay (p. 598)
before the Riksdag a statement of the financial condition of the
country in all of its aspects, both income and expenses, assets and
debts. It is made the duty of the Riksdag to vote such supplies as the
treasury manif