CONSTITUTION AND GOVERNMENT
855
Number of
Number of
states of the Empire
Members in
Deputies in
Bundesrat 17
Reichstag
Kingdom of Prussia
236
,, ,, Bavaria
6
48
,, ,, Saxony ......
4
23
,, ,, Wiirttejnberg ....
4
17
Grand-Duchy of Baden , .
3
14
,, ,, Hesse
3
9
,, ,, Mecklenburg- SchAverin .
2
6
,, Saxony
3
,, ,, Mecklenburg-Strelitz
1
,, ,, Oldenburg ....
3
Duchy of Brunswick
3
,, ,, Saxe-Meiningen ....
2
,, ,, Saxe-Altenburg . . .
1
,, ,, Saxe-Coburg-Gotha . * .
2
,, ,, Anhalt
2
Principality of Schwarzburg-Sondershausen
1
,, ,, Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt .
1
,, ,, Waldeck . . .
1
,, ,, Reuss Aelterer Linie .
1
,, ,, Reuss Jlingerer Linie
1
,, ,, Schaumburg-Lippe .
1
,, Lippe
1
Free town of Liibeck
1
,, ,, ,, Bremen
1
1
,, „ ,, Hamburg ..... Reichsland of Alsace-Lorraine ....
1 3
3
15
Total
61
397
The last elections (January, 1912) resulted in the return of the following : Socialists, 110 ; Centre Party, 90 ; National Liberals, 44 ; Conservatives, 45 ; Radicals, 41 ; Poles, 18; Free Conservatives, 13; Anti-Semites, 11 ; Other Parties, 25 (5 Alsatians, 4 Lorrainers, 5 Guelphs, 1 Dane, 2 Bavarian Peasants' League, 2 German Peasants' League, and 6 Independents).
The total number of electors to the Reichstag inscribed on the lists at the general election of 1912 was 14,441,436, while the number of actual voters was 12,260,626 (4,250,401 Socialists, 1,996,843 Centre Party, 1,662,670 National Liberals, 1,497,041 Radicals and 1,126,270 Conservatives).
Both the Bundesrat and the Reichstag meet in annual session, convoked by the Emperor. The Emperor has the right to prorogue and dissolve the Reichstag after a vote by the Bundesrat. Without consent of the Reichstag the prorogation may not exceed thirty days ; while in case of disso- lution new elections must take place within sixty days, and a new session must open within ninety days. All laws for the Empire must receive the votes of an absolute majority of the Bundesrat and the Reichstag. The Bundesrat is presided over by the Reichskanzler, or Chancellor of the Empire, and the President of the Reichstag is elected by the deputies.
Since the foundation of the Empire there have been five Chancellors :— (1) Prince Bismarck, 1871-90; (2) Count Caprivi, 1890-94 ; (3) Prince Hohenlohe, 1894-1904; (4) Prince Biilow, 1904-1909; (5) Dr. von Beth- man-Hollweg, 1909.
