mande, in _Annales de l'Ecole Libre
des Sciences Politiques_, Apr. 15, 1892.]

*296. Saxony: Crown and Ministry.*--Third among the states of the Empire
in population, though fifth in area, is the kingdom of Saxony. The
present Saxon constitution was promulgated September 4, 1831, under
the influence of the revolutionary movements of 1830. By it a monarchy
governed under a mediaeval system of estates was converted into a
monarchy governed, at least nominally, under a modern representative
regime. In point of fact, however, the inauguration of constitutionalism
tempered the actual authority of the monarch very slightly. The king is
still in every sense the supreme authority within the state.[409] He
appoints and dismisses ministers at will, issues ordinances with the
force of law, and exercises far-reaching control over the processes of
legislation. Upon the failure of the chambers to vote supplies which
are held to be essential, he may even collect and expend revenues for
a year on no authority apart from his own. For purposes of administrative
supervision there are ministers of War, Finance, Justice, Foreign
Affairs, the Interior, and Education, and the ministers collectively
comprise a Gesammt-Ministerium, or ministry of state. Measures of the
crown are countersigned by a minister; but there is no means by which
a minister may be forced out of office against the will of the (p. 277)
king by a hostile legislative chamber.

[Footnote 409: The crown is hereditary in the
Albertine line of the house of Wettin, with
reversion to the Ernestine line, of which the duke
of Saxe-Weimar is now the head. The present
sovereign is Frederick August III.]

*297. The Saxon Legislative Chambers.*--The Saxon legislature
(Standeversammlung) consists of two houses. The upper, designated
simply as the First Chamber, is a composite body consisting of
forty-six members, in addition to a variable number of adult princes
of the royal house. The membership comprises, principally, (1)
important prelates; (2) certain university officials; (3) proprietors
of great estates, twelve elected and ten appointed by the crown for
life: (4) the first magistrates of Dresden and Leipzig; (5) six
burgomasters of other cities, designated by the king; and (6) five
nobles named for life by free choice of the king. The lower house
consists of nin