The Baptists in Sweden. By Mrs. M.F. Anderson ...

THE SWEDISH DIET. 47
The whole number of the clergy is about twentyseven hundred, and the total number of members
of the house sixty-two.
The House of Burgers or citizens is chosen by
all those who are members of guilds or handicrafts in the cities and towns, or who belong to
the magistracy. This house has fifty-six members,
representing about fourteen thousand voters, more
than three times the number represented in the
other two houses.
The House of Bonders or peasants comprises
one hundred and eleven members, who are the representatives of two and a quarter millions of the
population. These peasants are, as a class, rapidly growing in wealth and social influence. They
are buying up large quantities of the land owned
by the nobles, and are also establishing large and
lucrative manufactories of various kinds.
In the Diet, the king or members of any house
may make propositions, which are discussed by the
other houses, and passed or rejected. Three
houses must vote in favor of a bill in order to its
final passage; and in case of reform bills, making
fundamental changes in the constitution, the whole
four houses must concur. And even then the king
has an absolute veto. When the houses are divided, two and two, the measure is lost, except in
case of financial bills, which are then referred to a
special committee of eighteen from each house,
whose vote is decisive.