Federal Council, from which there was a further appeal to the Federal Assembly. If the two chambers agreed, the decision was final; if they disagreed, the decision of the Federal Council prevailed. This system was found unsatisfactory, as a large part of the time of the chambers was occupied in the discussion of mixed questions of law and politics. When the Constitution of 1874 was adopted, this and many other defects were in a measure remedied. The fourth or last division of Chapter II. of the Swiss constitution, “Federal Authorities,” is devoted to the Federal Tribunal, and declares: 1. There shall be a Federal Tribunal for the administration of justice so far as it belongs to the Confederation. There shall be, moreover, a jury for criminal cases. 2. The members of the Federal Tribunal and their alternates shall be chosen by the Federal Assembly, which shall take care that all three national languages are represented therein. The organization of the Federal Tribunal and of its sections, the number of its members and alternates, and their terms of office and salary shall be determined by law. 3. Any Swiss citizen who is eligible to the National Council may be chosen to the Federal Tribunal. The members of the Federal Assembly or Federal Council, or officials appointed by those authorities, shall not at the same time belong to the Federal Tribunal. The members of the Federal Tribunal shall not during their term of office hold any other office, either in the service of the Confederation or any Canton, nor engage in any other pursuit, nor practise a profession. 4. The Federal Tribunal shall organize its own chancery, and appoint the officials. 5. The judicial authority of the Federal Tribunal shall extend to civil cases: (_a_) Between the Confederation and the Cantons. (_b_) Between the Confederation on the one part and corporations or private persons on the other part; when such corporations or private persons are the plaintiffs, and when the amount involved is of a degree of importance to be fixed by federal legislation. (_c_) Between Cantons. (_d_) Between Cantons on the one part and corporations or private persons on the other part upon the demand of either party, and where the amount involved is of a degree of importance to be fixed by federal legislation. It further has jurisdiction in suits concerning the status of persons not subjects of any government (Heimathlosen), and conflicts between Communes of different Cantons respecting the right of local citizenship (_droit de cité_). (_e_) The Federal Tribunal shall, moreover, decide other cases upon the demand of both parties to the suit, and when the amount involved is of a degree of importance to be fixed by federal legislation. (_f_) The Federal Tribunal, with the aid of juries to pass upon questions of fact, shall also have jurisdiction in criminal cases: (1) Involving high treason against the Confederation or rebellion or violence against the federal authorities.