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7. Of what is Parliament composed?

Of the House of Commons and the House of Lords. 8. Of what is the House of Commons composed? The House of Commons is composed of six hundred and fifty-five members, chosen by the people.

9. Who may vote for members of the House of Commons?

Those citizens who occupy, as owner or tenant, any house or other building of the clear yearly value of not less than ten pounds, provided they have paid the poor rates and assessed taxes.

10. For what length of time are the members chosen?

For seven years, unless Parliament is sooner dissolved by the King.

11. Has the King power to dissolve Parliament ? He can dissolve Parliament whenever he pleases, and order a new election of members of the House of Commons.

12. How often does Parliament meet?

It meets annually.

13. What are the powers of Parliament?

The power of Parliament to make laws is unlimited, except by the constitutional usages.

14. What is necessary in order that a bill may become a law?

It must receive a majority of the votes of both houses of Parliament, and receive the assent of the King.

15. What compensation do the members of the House of Commons receive?

They receive no pecuniary compensation, the honor of being a member being deemed sufficient.

16. At what age may a man become a member of the House of Commons?

Twenty-one years.

17. Where must all bills for revenue originate? In the House of Commons.

18. Can the House of Lords alter or amend such a bill?

They cannot; they must pass or reject it without alteration.

19. What power does this give the House of Commons?

They can attach to a revenue bill any provisions they please, and the lords must assent to them, or reject the bill, and thus leave the government without funds.

20. Can the Senate of the United States alter and amend a bill for revenue?

They can.

21. Who presides over the House of Commons? The Speaker, who is chosen by the house, but must be approved by the King.

22. How is the House of Lords composed?

The House of Lords is composed of the peers of England, sixteen representative peers of Scotland, and twenty-eight representative peers of Ireland, and the archbishops and bishops of the church of England.

23. Who are the peers of England?

The nobility of England.

24. What are the different orders of nobility? Dukes, marquises, earls, viscounts, and barons.

25. Who succeeds to the title and seat of a peer at his death?

His oldest son or nearest surviving male heir.

26. Why do not all the peers of Scotland and Ireland have seats in the House of Lords?

When Scotland and Ireland were united to the British crown, it was agreed that the peers of Scotland should elect sixteen of their number, and the peers of Ireland twenty-eight, to have seats in the House of Lords.

27. Who is the presiding officer of the House of Lords?

The Lord High Chancellor.

28. Where does the power of impeachment reside? In the House of Commons.

29. By whom are impeachments tried? By the House of Lords.

30. What punishment may be inflicted in case of conviction?

Removal from, and disqualification for, holding office, banishment, forfeiture of goods, imprisonment, and death.

31. Are the sessions of Parliament open to spectators?

No one can be present without an order for admission signed by some member.

CHAPTER XXVI.

THE ENGLISH EXECUTIVE.

1. Where does the executive power reside?

In the King.

2. What is a maxim of the English Constitution in regard to the King?

"The King can do no wrong."

3. What is the meaning of that maxim?

The responsibility of all executive acts rests not with the King, but with his ministers.

4. Who are the ministers?

Men appointed by the King to conduct the executive affairs of the government.

5. Are the ministers responsible for all the official acts of the King?

They are.

6. Suppose the King commands them to do an illegal act?

They can be punished for doing it.

7. How could they avoid doing the illegal act? By resigning their offices.

8. What constitutes the administration in the British government?

The King's ministers.

9. What is their tenure of office?

They hold office at the will of the King.

10. Can the ministers be also members of the House of Commons?

They may; but they must be elected after they have been appointed ministers.

11. What usually takes place when a majority of the House of Commons is opposed to the measures of the administration?

The ministers resign, and new ministers are appointed, whose views are supposed to correspond with those of the majority of the House of Com

mons.

12. What other course is sometimes taken?

They advise the King to dissolve Parliament, and order the election of a new House of Commons.

13. When is this course taken?

When the ministers believe that they can secure in the new house a majority favorable to their views. 14. What power has the King with respect to war and peace?

He has the sole power to declare war and make peace.

15. Does not this give the King nearly absolute power?

No; for he cannot carry on war without money, and he can get no money unless it is voted by a majority of the House of Commons.

16. The sword and the purse, then, are not in the same hands?

The King holds the sword, and the House of Commons the purse.

17. By whom are all civil and military officers of the government appointed?

By the King.

18. What is their tenure of office?

All officers, except the judges, hold office at the will of the King.

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