The legislative power is in the Asamblea Nacional of Guatemala, which convenes on the 1st of March annually; and its ordinary sessions last only two months, although it may continue in session another month if necessary. Owing to the adoption of a code, the republic is generally saved the “hayseed” law of the Northern legislatures and the “judge-made” law of the courts; and the work of the Asamblea is greatly lightened. The deputies who compose the Asamblea are elected on the basis of one for every twenty thousand inhabitants, or for a fraction exceeding one half of that number. Each is elected for a term of four years; but the terms are so arranged that one half of the deputies is changed every two years. To these deputies the various Secretaries of State make formal reports regarding the matters usually contained in the President’s Message to the Congress of the United States. The President of Guatemala is elected by direct popular vote for the term of six years; and the Asamblea elects two persons to succeed him in turn, should he die or cease to act during the term for which he was elected. Profiting by the example of the older republic, Guatemala has rejected the farcical election still used in the North, where the people are supposed to elect electors to elect a President. The President appoints the following Secretaries of State:— Relaciones Exteriores Foreign Affairs. Gobernacion i Justicia Government and Justice. Hacienda y Credito Publico Treasury. Guerra War. Fomento Interior. Instruccion Publica Public Instruction. These officials, with nine Counsellors, form the Council of State. For the purposes of government the republic is divided into twenty-three Departments, which are subdivided into sixty-one Districts. In these Districts are eleven cities (_ciudades_), thirty-two towns (_villas_), two hundred and ninety-nine villages (_pueblos_), fourteen hundred and six settlements (_aldeas_), fifty-nine shore hamlets (_caserios litorales_), and three thousand seven hundred and forty-two interior hamlets (_caserios rurales_). The Departments, with their chief towns, are as follows: Departments. Chief Towns.