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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