From among the members, the assembly elects a “standing committee of from five to seven persons,” who serve for a period of two years. They remain in the capital throughout the year, to give advice when the Governor asks it about the manner and order of carrying out the enactments of the assembly and about the payment of extraordinary expense. A member of this committee receives “from 30 _yen_ to 80 _yen_ per month, and travelling expenses.” The ordinary annual session of an assembly opens some time in November and continues for not more than 30 days. But the Governor has power to call a special session and to suspend an assembly; while the power to prorogue an assembly rests with the Minister of State for Home Affairs. Each session of an assembly is formally “opened” by the Governor; and the business to come before the assembly is presented in bills originating with him and his subordinates. At any time, when a member of the assembly wishes explanations concerning any matter within the purview of the assembly, the Governor or his representative must explain. In fact, such officials may speak at any time, provided they do not interrupt the speech of a member; but they have no vote. [Illustration: NAVAL LEADERS OF JAPAN ADMIRAL ENOMOTO ADMIRAL KABAYAMA ] When a member wishes to address the assembly, he rises, calls out “_Gichō_” (Chairman), and gives the number of his seat. When the chairman has recognized him by repeating that number, he “has the floor.”[100] If other matters, besides those included in the “original bill(s)” of the Governor, seem to at least two members to warrant discussion, they present these matters in the form of petitions; and if the assembly grants permission, these petitions may be discussed, like bills. No bill becomes a law until it has been signed by the Governor. If the latter does not agree with a bill, he may appeal to the Department of Home Affairs, where it will be finally decided. If we now endeavor to measure the extent and limitations of the power of a Japanese prefectural assembly, we may say that in theory a _Kenkwai_ or a _Fukwai_ is by no means entirely independent of the central government, nor does it possess absolute control of the matters of its own _Ken_ or _Fu_. It will be noticed that in all cases the final ratification or decision rests with the Governor or the Department of Home Affairs. The latter also has the power in its own hands of suspending an assembly at its discretion. It would seem, then, that theoretically a _Fukwai_ or a _Kenkwai_ is pretty much under the control of the central government, and has very little real power of its own. Its nature appears more like that of an elective advisory board than of a legislative body.