Constitution and Government.
Austria has become moulded, since the year 1867, into a bipartite state, consisting of a German, or 'Cisleithan,' monarchy, and a Magyar, or 'Transleithan,' kingdom, the former commonly known as Austria Proper, and the latter as Hungary. Each of the two countries has its own parliament, ministers, and government, while the connecting ties between them consists in the person of the hereditary sovereign, in a common army and navy, and in a governing body known as the Delegations. The Delegations form a parliament of 120 members, one-half of whom are chosen by and represent the legislature of German Austria, and the other half that of Hungary, the Upper House of each returning 20, and the Lower House 40 deputies. In all matters affecting the common affairs (Gemeinsame Angelegenheiten), the Delegations have a decisive vote, and their resolutions require neither the confirmation nor approbation of the representative assemblies in which they have their source. The ordinary mode of procedure for the Delegations is to sit and vote in two chambers, the 60 deputies of Austria Proper forming the one, and the 60 of Hungary the other. But it is provided that if no agreement can be arrived at in this manner, the two bodies must meet together, and, without further debate, give their final vote, which is binding for the whole Empire. Specially within the jurisdiction of the Delegations are all matters affecting Foreign Affairs, War, and Finance. Each of these has its own executive department, viz. : —
1. The Ministry of Foreign Affairs for the Whole Empire. — Count Friedrich Ferdinand von Beust, born at Dresden, January 13, 1809; educated for the diplomatic career; secretary of Legation for Saxony in England, 1836-38; in France, 1838-41; in Bavaria, 1848; Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Kingdom of Saxony, February 1849 till September 1866; appointed Minister of Foreign Affairs of Austria, October 30, 1866; President of the Austrian Council of Ministers, Feb. 24 to Dec. 29, 1867; nominated Chancellor of the Empire, June 23, 1867; Minister of Foreign Affairs for the Whole Empire, Dec. 29, 1867.
2. The Ministry of War for the Whole Empire.— Field Marshal Baron Franz Kuhn von Kuhnenfeld; nominated Minister of War for the Whole Empire, Dec. 29, 1867.
3. The Ministry of Finance for the Whole Empire. — Melchior Lonyay, Minister of Finance of Hungary from February 1867 to June 1870; appointed Minister of Finance for the Whole Empire, June 10, 1870.
The above ministers are solely responsible for the discharge of their official functions to the Delegations.
