POLITICAL GEOGRAPHY 233

Ever since the dark episode of the Mutiny in 1857-58
revealed the weak points in the old East Indian Company's
administration, India has been brought directly under the
Crown, the present form of the Government of the Indian
empire being established by the Government of India
Act, which received the Royal Assent on August 2, 1858.
On January 1, 1877, the Queen of England assumed the
title of Empress of India. Asin the days of the Company,
50 also in these days the constitution of the Indian Government
 is dual—.e. it is conducted by an Administrative
Council in England, and an Executive Council in India.
The Secretary of State for India is invested with all
the powers formerly exercised by the Company, and he is
assisted by a Council of not less than ten members,
appointed by himself, who advise on questions of finance
and revenue, but have little to say to foreign policy
or war.
The supreme executive authority in India is invested
in the Governor-General in Council, often styled the
Government of India. Since 1858 the Governor-General
has also been Viceroy. He is assisted by a Council of
five members appointed for five years, who represent
seven different departments of Indian administration, as
follows : Home, Foreign, Finance, Military, Public Works,
Revenue.and Agriculture, and Legislature.
In addition to the five ordinary members the Commander-in-Chief
 is usually appointed an extraordinary
member. He is the executive rather than the advisory
officer to Government in military affairs, the Government
adviser being the military member of Council, who may
be, and often is, of junior rank to himself.
Additional members can be added, up to the number
of sixteen, by the Governor-General, for purposes of
legislation only.
Thus there are practically four members of the Indian
Civil Service, one lawyer, and two soldiers on the Viceroy’s
 Council. In every administrative department there
is a Secretary to Government, whose business it is to
prepare all cases for submission to the Governor-General