"Prussia is a constitutional monarchy, and the crown is hereditary in the male line, in the Hohenzollern family. The executive and part of the legislative power are vested in the king, who is of age at eighteen. The legislature is composed of a House of Lords and a Chamber of Deputies. A bill passing both branches and being approved by the king becomes a law. Bills may originate with the king or either of the chambers. A bill vetoed by the king, or rejected by either house, cannot be moved again during the same session. The upper house is composed of the princes of the royal family who are of age, and a few other princes; the heads of certain noble families, life peers chosen by the king from rich land-owners, great manufacturers, and celebrated men, eight noblemen chosen by the eight former provinces of Prussia; representatives of universities, the burgomasters of towns having over fifty thousand inhabitants; and any number of members nominated by the king for life, or for a limited period. The lower house consists of four hundred and thirty-two members, chosen indirectly by the people. "The royal family of Prussia are Protestants, but all denominations of Christians have equal rights and privileges. Nearly two thirds of the people are Protestants, and about one third Catholics. Education is universal, and compulsory. Every town must maintain schools, and all parents are obliged to send their children to them. A small tuition fee is charged,--about two or three cents a week,--but this is not exacted when the parents are too poor to pay it. The compulsion applies only to the elementary schools; but the higher schools are open to the poor at a very small charge. There are eleven grades of schools, from the elementary up to the university, including normal, industrial, and veterinary, schools for agriculture, mining, and architecture.