AREA. AND POPULATION
699
legislative autliority was vested in a single Chamber, called the Sobranje or National Assembly. The members of it are elected by universal manhood suffrage at the rate of one member to every 20,000 of the population. Those residing in the city where the National Assembly sits receive 15 leva (125.) a day (including Sundays and holidays) during session ; others, 20 leva (16.9.) a day with travelling expenses. All over 30 years of age who can read and write (except the clergy, soldiers on active service, persons deprived of civil rights, &c.) are eligible as representatives. The duration of the Assembly is four years, but it may be dissolved at any time by the King, when new elections must take place within two months. Laws passed by the Sobranje require the assent of the King. Questions concerning the acquisition or cession of territory, changes in the constitution, a vacancy on the throne, or the appointment of a regent have to be decided by a Grand Sobranje, elected for the special purpose in a manner similar to that in which the ordinary Sobranje is elected, but with double the number of members. For the Fifth National Assembly (1911), 1,033,048 electors were entitled to vote, but only 556,782 actually voted.
Sobranje (elected September 19, 1911) ; 190 Nationalists, 5 Agrarians, 7 Liberals, 6 National Liberals, 1 Young Liberal, 6 Democrats.
The executive power is vested in a Council of eight Ministers nominated by the King — namely, 1. Minister for Foreign Affairs and Public Worship ; 2! Minister of the Interior and of Public Health ; 3. Minister of Public Instruction ; 4. Minister of Finance ; 5. Minister of Justice ; 6. Minister of War ; 7. Minister for Commerce and Industry ; 8. Minister of Agriculture ; 9. Minister of Public Works, Ways and Communications ; 10. Minister of Railways, Posts and Telegraphs.
Area and Population.
The estimated area of Bulgaria is 33,647 English square miles.^ By a census taken on December 31, 1910, the population of the whole kingdom was ascertained to be 4,337,516 (2,206,691 males and 2,130,825 females), as against 4,035,575 (2,057,092 males and 1,978,483 females). Bulgaria is divided into 12 districts (including the 3 districts of Eastern Rumelia).
Area and population of districts, according to census of December 31, 1910:—
1. Bniirgas .
2. Varna
3. Vidin
4. Vratza
5. Kustendil
G Plovdiv (Philippo-
polis) .
7. Pleven
Area
Popula- ' tion 1
sq. miles
5,409
351,508 '
2,554
329,612
3,255
237,571 :
773
312,460
867
231,522
3,238
447,309
1,851
365,868
S. Ronsse (Rustchuk)
0. Sophia
10. St. Zagora .
11. Tirnovo
12. Choumen
Area
Popula- tion
sq. miles 2,U5 1,832 6,540 2.502 2,691
Total
33,64^
406,309 481,598 442,969 448,197 282,601
4,337,516
The population, ^divided according to nationality," was as follows in 1910,
3,203,810 Bulgarians, 488,010 Turks, 75,773 Rumanians, 63,487 Greeks;
98,004 Gipsies, 37,663 Jews, 3,863 Germans, 3,275 Russians, and 61,690
of other nationalities. The present capital of the Principality is the city
of Sofia, with a population (census, 1910) of 102,812. The other principal
towns, with population in 1910, are Philippopolis 47,981 ; Rustchuk, 36,255 ;
Varna, 41,419 ; Shumla, 22,225 ; Slivno (Sliven), 50,598 ; Plevna (Pleven),
23 049
' ' 1 See note under Area and Population of Turkey.
