The qualification of the elector, as above described, is that of being in the enjoyment of the “active right of citizenship,”--_i.e._, not excluded from the rights of a voter by the legislation of his Canton. This also applies to those who have been deprived of their civic rights by virtue of the penal law, and in consequence of a judicial sentence; and in some Cantons embraces insolvents and paupers. The limitation of eligibility to “lay” Swiss citizens does not necessarily exclude ecclesiastics, as illustrated in a recent case of a Bernese clergyman, who, being chosen a member of the National Council, simply laid aside temporarily, by resignation, his clerical robes; should he fail any time of re-election he may return to the pulpit. Naturalized citizens are not eligible until five years after they have become citizens. The provision forbidding a member to hold the office of President for two consecutive ordinary sessions makes it possible, during the life of a National Council, for one-fourth of the Cantons (even counting the half-Cantons) to be honored with this officer; and certainly gives but little opportunity for the building up of a one-man power, just this side of absolute. The power of the presiding officer of the National Council is too insignificant to justify any parallel with that of the Speaker of the United States House of Representatives. A federal law regulates in a uniform manner, and by ballot, the election for members of the National Council; the execution of the law is entirely under the direction of the Canton, and in immaterial details there is a great diversity. There are registers in each Commune, in which every citizen having a vote must be inscribed. These registers are open two weeks before the day of the election, and close three days previous to it. In some Cantons, a card from the Commune where the voter is registered is left at his house; in others, he must present himself at the proper office and obtain his card. The election takes place on the last Sunday in October triennially. The polls generally are in the churches, and no one is permitted to enter except upon the presentation of the requisite proof as to his right to vote. Candidates must be elected by an absolute majority of the votes cast. Should there be a failure of election, a second ballot under the same conditions is had the following Sunday. If a third ballot becomes necessary, the election is again repeated the next Sunday, when the _scrutin de liste_ is restricted to a number not exceeding three times the number of members to be chosen; and these must be taken in order from those receiving the largest vote in the previous _tours de scrutin_. In this final trial the candidate or candidates, as the case may be, having a plurality are elected. The members are elected on a general ticket,--that is, “at large” for the district, not for the Canton. These districts are called _arrondissements_, and the method of voting is known as _scrutin