women alike, may vote at the election of the council.  The burgomaster serves for life, and is usually required to abstain from all other business except that which pertains to the public weal.  The parishes are consolidated into twenty-four provinces, similar to our states, each having a certain independence and government of its own, although the governor-general, who also serves for life on good behavior, is appointed by the king.  The city of Stockholm is an independent jurisdiction like the District of Columbia, with a governor appointed by the king.  The riksdag was formerly composed of four distinct bodies,—­nobles, clergymen, burghers, peasants,—­representing the different classes of the community, and all laws required their approval.  In 1866, however, this clumsy arrangement was abolished and the national legislature was consolidated into two bodies known as the first and second chamber, similar to our Senate and House of Representatives.  The two chambers are equal in every respect, except that the second chamber, or lower house, has the advantage of numbers when a deadlock arises and the question in dispute is decided by a joint ballot.  Then, unless there should be an overwhelming difference of opinion, the second chamber usually has its will, which is perfectly right, because it represents the people.  The king must approve all legislation to make it effective, and his veto is final, except in matters concerning taxation and the expenditure of public money.  The diet has the sole power to levy taxes and make appropriations with or without his consent.

The first chamber, which corresponds to our Senate, is composed of one hundred and fifty members, elected for terms of nine years by the provincial councils and by the city councils in towns of more than 25,000 inhabitants.  As the councils are elected by the taxpayers, both men and women, the members of the first chamber may be regarded as the representatives of the property-owning portion of the community.  To be eligible to the first chamber a candidate must be thirty-five years old, own property assessed at $21,000, or pay taxes upon an income of not less than $1,100.  Rank does not count.  The qualification is pecuniary entirely, and so evenly is property distributed in Sweden that only ten thousand people in the entire kingdom are eligible to the first chamber of the diet.

The members of the second chamber, two hundred and thirty in number, are elected for three years, of whom eighty are elected by the towns and one hundred and fifty by the rural districts.  Each must have property worth $270, or have leased $1,600 worth of land for five years, or pay taxes on an income of $214.  These are also the qualifications for voting for members of the parliament.