of Imperial legislation, the consent of the Federal Council is requisite for their conclusion, and the sanction of the Reichstag for their coming into force."'
(Article 4 gives a list of the affairs which are subject to the superintendence and legislation of the Empire.)
'2. The relations between the Reichstag and the Imperial Chancellor, who is solely responsible for the Government departments, including the Foreign Office, and is not responsible to the Reichstag; and
'3. The limitation of the effective powers of the Reichstag to a share in legislation.
'In practice the Reichstag deals with foreign affairs (a) in connection with the Imperial Budget, which, including as it does the estimates for the office of the Imperial Chancellor and the Foreign Office, is embodied in an annual Bill, which requires the consent of the Reichstag before it can be passed into law, and (b) by occasional debates on interpellations, or (c) more rarely, on motions.
'(a) The Budget Bill, like other Bills, is read three times. The first reading stage consists of a general discussion, which falls naturally into discussions on foreign and home affairs respectively. The second reading stage consists of, first, detailed debate in committee (see special remarks appended _on the Budget Committee), and, secondly, the debate on the report to the whole House. Both in committee and on report the estimates for the separate departments are taken in succession, In committee there is usually a considerable debate on the Foreign Office estimates, and confidential communications are made by the Imperial Chancellor, or more usually the Foreign Secretary, and if necessary by Foreign Office officials, On report also there is often a fairly long debate on the Foreign Office estimates, in which the Imperial Chancellor generally takes part. Foreign questions appear to be seldom raised on the third reading of the estimates.
'(b) The only way in which questions can be addressed in the Reichstag to the Imperial Chancellor—for since the subordinate Ministers, including the Foreign Secretary, appear solely as the Chancellor's representatives, questions cannot be addressed to them, though they are often deputed
