f a member of that body. The relations of the
Empire and the Prussian kingdom practically require, further, that the
Chancellor be identified with the Prussian contingent in the federal
chamber. Since, however, the Emperor, in his capacity of king of
Prussia, designates the Prussian delegates in that body, it is open to
him to make such an appointment in this second capacity as will enable
him when selecting, in his Imperial capacity, a chancellor to procure
the services of the man he wants.

[Footnote 311: Art. 15, cl. 2. Dodd, Modern
Constitutions, I., 331.]

*225. Functions: in the Bundesrath and the Reichstag.*--Speaking
broadly, the functions of the Chancellor are two-fold. The first
arises from his position within the Bundesrath. Not only does he
represent in that body, as do his Prussian colleagues, the king of
Prussia; he is vested constitutionally with the presidency of it and
with the supervision of its business. He determines the dates of its
sessions. Through his hands pass all communications and proposals,
from the states as well as from the Reichstag, addressed to it, and he
is its representative in all of its external relations. In the name of
the Emperor he lays before the Reichstag all measures enacted by the
Bundesrath; and as a member of the Bundesrath, though not as Imperial
Chancellor, he may appear on the floor of the Reichstag to advocate
and explain proposed legislation. Measures which have been enacted
into law are binding only after they have been proclaimed by the
Chancellor, such proclamation being made regularly through the
official organ known as the _Reichsgesetzblatt_.

*226. Functions: Administration.*--A second function, so inextricably
intertwined with those just mentioned as to be in practice sometimes
not clearly distinguishable from them, is that which arises from the
Chancellor's position as the principal administrative official of the
Empire. As has been pointed out, the work of administration under the
German system is largely decentralized, being left to the states; but
the ultimate administrative _authority_ is very highly centralized,
being gathered in the hands of the Chancellor in a measure not
paralleled in any other nation of western Europe. As an administrative
official the Chancellor has been described with aptness as the
Emperor's "other self." He is appointed by the Emperor; he may be
dismissed by him; he performs his functions