In view of the recent struggle between the Czar and the Finnish people, it may be well to give a sketch of their constitution. The sovereign governs, not as Emperor of Russia, but as Grand Duke of Finland. He delegates his administrative powers to a Senate, which is presided over by a Governor-General. This important official, as a matter of fact, has always been a Russian; his powers are, or rather were[235], shared by two sections of the Finnish Senate, each composed of ten members nominated by the Grand Duke. The Senate prepares laws and ordinances which the Grand Duke then submits to the Diet. This body consists of four Orders--nobles, clergy, burghers, and peasants. Since 1886 it has enjoyed to a limited extent the right of initiating laws. The Orders sit and vote separately. In most cases a resolution that is passed by three of them becomes law, when it has received the assent of the Grand Duke. But the assent of a majority in each of the four Orders is needed in the case of a proposal that affects the constitution of the Grand Duchy and the privileges of the Orders. In case a Bill is accepted by two Orders and is rejected by the other two, a deadlock is averted by each of the Orders appointing fifteen delegates; these sixty delegates, meeting without discussion, vote by ballot, and a bare majority carries the day. Measures are then referred to the Grand Duke, who, after consulting the Senate, gives or witholds his assent[236]. [Footnote 235: A law of the autumn of 1902 altered this. It delegated the administration to the Governor-General, _assisted by_ the Senate.] [Footnote 236: For the constitution of Finland and its relation to Russia, see _A Précis of the Public Law of Finland_, by L. Mechelin, translated by C.J. Cooke (1889); _Pour la Finlande_, par Jean Deck; _Pour la Finlande, La Constitution du Grand Duché de Finlande_ (Paris, 1900). J.R. Danielsson, _Finland's Union with the Russian Empire_ (Borga, 1891).]