s. Debate is carried on under regulations
closely resembling those which prevail in the British House of Commons
and distinctly less restrictive than those in vogue in the French
Chamber of Deputies. Members of the Bundesrath, to whom is assigned a
special bench, possess the right to appear and to speak at pleasure.
Debaters address the chamber from the tribune or from their seats as
they choose, and they speak whenever they can secure the recognition
of the presiding official, not, as in France, in the hard and fast
order indicated by a previously prepared written list. Like the
Speaker of the House of Commons, the president of the Reichstag is a
strictly non-partisan moderator. A fixed tradition of the office is
that during debate the chair shall recognize alternately the
supporters and the opponents of the measure under consideration. As a
general rule, closure of debate may be ordered upon the initiative of
thirty members.

Unlike the sittings of the Bundesrath, which take place invariably
behind closed doors, those of the Reichstag are, by constitutional
provision, public. Under the standing orders, however, the body may go
into secret session, on motion of the president, or of ten members.
Publicity is further assured by the constitutional stipulation that
"no one shall be held responsible for truthful reports of the
proceedings of the public sessions of the Reichstag."[339] Measures
are carried by absolute majority; and, while discussion may proceed in
the absence of a quorum, no vote or other action is valid unless there
is present a majority of the full membership of the body, that is,
since 1873, 199.

[Footnote 339: Art. 22. Dodd, Modern Constitutions,
I., 333.]

*242. Powers.*--The legislative power of the Empire is vested in the
Reichstag and the Bundesrath conjointly, and a majority of the votes
of both bodies is necessary for the enactment of a law. So declares
the constitution. The legislative functions of the popular chamber (p. 228)
are, however, in practice distinctly subordinate to those of the
Bundesrath. The Reichstag possesses no such power of legislative
initiative and discretion as is possessed by the popular chambers of
Great Britain, France, Italy, and the United States. Its consent is
necessary for the enactment of every law, for the adoption of every
constitutional amendment, and for the ratification of every treaty
affecting matters within the domai