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mentioned, the ministers may be impeached by Althingi in matters 
relating to the discharge of their official duties. And through addresses 
to the king and resolutions and questions to the government Althingi 
has an extensive conirolling authority on the conduct of affairs. 
THE LEGISLATIVE POWER 
According to § 2 of the Icelandic constitution, the legislalive power 
rests jointly with the crown and Althingi. From this general rule the 
constitution deviates in two ways, viz. in some specified instances the 
king may issue provisional laws, and in some other cases a bill passed 
by Althingi and signed by the king requires a referendum before it 
becomes an act. 
2. General Laws. Both the king and the members of either deild 
(House of parliament) may bring bills before Althingi. The pro- 
cess of law-making is conducted as follows: The bill is introduced 
in either House, where it passes three readings. If it passes them 
all, it is sent to the other House where it undergoes an exactly 
similar process. If amended or altered there, the bill is sent back 
to the House where it originated; and if that House introduces 
alterations, the bill must again be sent to the other House. If not 
passed in this shape, both Houses shall meet in a united Althingi 
and dispose of the bill at one sitting, but under these circumstances 
a majority of two-thirds of the votes cast is required for the bill 
to pass. All these readings and votings must take place in the 
same session. When the bill has finally passed both Houses, it is 
laid before the king in council for ratification. If a bill, passed by 
Althingi, has not received the royal assent before the next regular 
session of Althingi, it amounts to the bill being vetoed. The king's 
right of veto is thus unrestricted. But as the royal veto on bills 
must have the signature of a minister, it is in reality very little 
felt in countries where the parliamentary system of government 
has been established. The king provides for all new laws being 
published in the official Gazette. 
Budget and Supplementary Budget. Respecting the budget and 
supplementary budget the following special rules obtain: Shortly 
after the regular assembling of Parliament (Althingi) the finance 
bill is presented, and Althingi must not be prorogued till the bill has 
passed. A provisional budget must not be issued, if the budget for 
the financial year has alreadv been passed by Althingi. For the 
h