The universal geography : earth and its inhabitants

162 SCANDINAVIA.and bailiffs {foged), as well as to police officers {lensmand) named by theprefect.The 61 urban communes comprise 39 towns (kjobstader) and 22 minor seaports[ladesteden), the rural 58 bailiwicks (fogdcricr). They form collectively 18 prefecturesor departments {amter), besides the two prefectships of Christiania andBergen, each administered by a council {amtsformandskab) composed of thepresidents of the communal councils, under the presidency of the prefect.Government and Administration of Sweden.The modified constitution of June 8th, 1809, establishes the State a representativemonarchy. Nevertheless the King is supposed to govern alone, and if he isassisted by a Council of State, it is only to consult it and receive the informationof which he may stand in need. This body consists of ten members (includinga prime minister named by the King), seven in charge of foreign and home affairs,the finances, justice, war, the navy, and public worship and instruction, threewithout portfolio, and of these at least two must be old civil functionaries. Alladministrative matters are submitted to the King in Council, and should he beconsidered to have decided illegally, the "reporter" refuses his signature and tendershis resignation, when the matter is referred to the Diet. Members of the Swedishand Norwegian Councils of State must be present whenever any question is beingdiscussedaffecting the interests of both kingdoms. In the absence of the sovereignfrom Scandinavia the Government is intrusted to the Crown Prince, and, failinghim, to the State Council. The King's civil list amounts to £47,720 payable bySweden, and £19,900 by Norway. In 1873 the Diet refused to tax the nation forthe coronation expenses.The old national representation of Sweden comprised the four estates of thenobility, clergy, burgesses, and peasantry; but under the pressure of publicopinion the estates themselves decided, in 1866, to reorganize the legislative body.According to the new law the nation is represented by a Diet {Riksdag) composedof two Chambers, corresponding with the Lords and Commons of England. Themembers of the Upper House are elected for nine years by the Councils General ofthe provinces and the Municipal Councils of the large towns, in the proportion of1 to every 30,000 of the population. To be eligible they must be at least thirtyfiveyears old, owners of real property to the value of £4,536 (80,000 crowns), andin the receipt of a yearly income of £227 (4,000 crowns). And as this Chambermainly represents wealth, all members must resign whose estate during their tenureof office falls under the amount required by the law. They receive no remunerationfor their services, and number at present 133.The Lower House is now composed of 198 deputies, all elected for three yearsby voters paying taxes. Each judicial circuit names a deputy for every 40,000 ofthe population, while in the boroughs the proportion is 1 to every 10,000, andthe members here also must have either a property qualification of 1,000 crowns,or a leasehold of 6,000, or a taxable income of at least 800. They must furtherhave resided at least one year in the commune, or be upwards of twenty-five years