consent pas, ou bien lorsque cinquante mille citoyens suisses ayant droit de voter demandent la révision, la question de savoir si la Constitution fédérale doit être révisée, est, dans l'un comme dans l'autre cas, soumise à la votation du peuple suisse, par oui ou par non.

Si, dans l'un ou l'autre de ces cas, la majorité des citoyens suisses prenant part à la votation se prononce pour l'affirmative, les deux Conseils seront renouvelés pour travailler à la révision.

ART. 121. La Constitution fédérale révisée entre en viguer lorsqu'elle a été acceptée par la majorité des citoyens suisses prenant part à la votation et par la majorité des Etats.

Pour établier la majorité des Etats, le vote d'un demi-Canton est compté pour une demi-voix.

Le résultant de la votation populaire dans chaque Canton est considéré comme le vote de l'Etat.

DISPOSITIONS TRANSITOIRES.

ART. 1er. Le produit des postes et des péages sera réparté sur les bases actuelles jusqu'à l'époque où la Confédération prendra effectivement à sa charge les dépenses militaires supportées jusqu'à ce jour par les Cantons.

La législation fédérale pourvoira en outre à ce que la perte qui pourraient entraîner dans leur ensemble les modifications résultant des articles 20, 30, 36, 2e alinéa, et 42, pour le fisc de certains Cantons, ne frappe ceux-ci que graduellement et n'atteigne son chiffre total qu'après une période transitoire de quelques années.

Les Cantons qui n'auraient pas rempli, au moment où l'article 20 de la Constitution entrera en vigueur, les obligations militaires qui leur sont imposées par l'ancienne Constitution et les lois fédérales seront tenus de les exécuter à leurs propres frais.

ART. 2. Les dispositions des lois fédérales, des concordats et des Constitutions ou des lois cantonales contraires à la présente Constitution cessent d'être en vigueur par le fait de l'adoption de celli-ci, ou de la promulgation des lois qu'elle prévoit,

ART. 3. Les nouvelles dispositions concernant l'organisation

et la compétence du Tribunal fédéral n'entrent en vigueur qu'après la promulgation des lois fédérales y relatives.

ART. 4. Un délai de cinq ans est accordé aux Cantons, pour introduire la gratuité de l'enseignement public primaire (Art. 27).

ART. 5. Les personnes qui exercent une profession libérale et qui, avant la promulgation de la loi fédérale prévue à l'art. 33, ont obtenu un certificat de capacité d'un Canton ou d'une autorité concordataire représentant plusieurs Cantons, peuvent exercer cette profession sur tout le territoire de la Confédération.

[48 and 49 Vict. Cap. 60, "Law Reports; Public General Statutes," vol. 21, 1885, pp. 324-328.]

An Act to Constitute a Federal Council of Australasia. [14th August, 1885.]

WHEREAS it is expedient to constitute a Federal Council of Australasia, for the purpose of dealing with such matters of common Australasian interest, in respect to which united action is desirable, as can be dealt with without unduly interfering with the management of the internal affairs of the several colonies by their respective legislatures:

Be it enacted by the Queen's most Excellent Majesty, by and with the advice and consent of the Lords Spiritual and Temporal, and Commons, in this present Parliament assembled, and by the authority of the same, as follows:

1. In this Act, unless the context otherwise require, Definitions. the following terms shall bear the meanings set opposite to them respectively :—

"Colonies."-The colonies (including their respective dependencies) of Fiji, New Zealand, New South Wales, Queensland, Tasmania, Victoria, and Western Australia, and the province of South Australia, and any other colonies that may hereafter be created in Australasia, or those of the said colonies in respect to which this Act is in operation:

"Crown Colony."-Any colony in which the control of public officers is retained by Her Majesty's Imperial Government :

Institution of

Federal
Council.

Power to make laws.

Session of
Council.
Constitution of
Council.

Appointment, etc., of representatives.

Place of sitting of Council.

"Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia."-The
colonies and such other territories as Her Majesty
may from time to time declare by Order in
Council to be within the operation of this Act:
"Council."-The Federal Council as hereby consti-
tuted:

"Governor."-The Governor, Lieutenant Governor,

or other officer administering the government of the colony referred to, with the advice of his executive council, except in the case of a Crown Colony, in which case the word shall mean the Governor, Lieutenant Governor, or such other officer alone.

2. There shall be in and for Her Majesty's possessions in Australasia a Federal Council, constituted as hereinafter provided, and called the Federal Council of Australasia, which shall have the functions, powers, and authority herein-after defined.

3. Within such possessions Her Majesty shall have power, by and with the advice and consent of the Council, to make laws for the purposes herein-after specified, subject to the provisions herein contained respecting the operation of this Act.

4. A session of the Council shall be held once at least in every two years.

5. Each colony shall be represented in the Council by two members, except in the case of Crown colonies, which shall be represented by one member each. Her Majesty, at the request of the legislatures of the colonies, may by Order in Council from time to time increase the number of representatives for each colony.

6. The legislature of any colony may make such provision as it thinks fit for the appointment of the representatives of that colony, and for determining the tenure of their office.

7. The first session of the Council shall be held at Hobart, in the colony of Tasmania. Subsequent sessions shall be held in such colony as the Council shall from time to time determine.

8. The Council shall be summoned and prorogued by Summoning and Prorogathe Governor of the colony in which the session shall be tion of Council. held; and shall be so summoned and prorogued by proclamation, published in the "Government Gazette" of each of the colonies; and shall meet at such time and at such place as shall be named in the proclamation.

representatives

9. The Governor of each colony shall from time to Governors to time transmit to the Governors of the other colonies the report names of names of the members appointed to represent the colony of which he is Governor.

not to affect

10. Notwithstanding any vacancy in the representation Vacancy in of any colony, the Council shall be competent to proceed representation to the dispatch of business, and to exercise the authority acts of Council. hereby conferred upon it.

11. At the request of the Governors of any three of Special Sessions the colonies, a special session of the Council shall be of Council. summoned to deal with such special matters as may be mentioned in the proclamation convening it. Until the Council shall make other provision in that behalf, any such special session shall be summoned by the Governor of Tasmania, and shall be held at Hobart.

12. The Council shall in each session elect one of its President of members to be president.

Council.

13. The presence of a majority of the whole number Quorum, and of members of the Council for the time being, representing voting. a majority of the colonies with respect to which this Act is in operation, shall be necessary to constitute a quorum for the dispatch of business, and all questions which shall arise in the Council shall be decided by the votes of a majority of the members present, including the president.

by members.

14. No member of the Council shall sit or vote until he Oath or affirma shall have taken and subscribed before the governor of one tion to be taken of the colonies the oath of allegiance contained in the schedule hereto : Provided that every member authorized by the law of the colony which he represents to make an affirmation instead of the oath hereby required to be taken. 15. Saving Her Majesty's prerogative, and subject to Matters subject to legislative the provisions herein contained with respect to the authority of Council.