There  are  several  devices  by  which  Parliament  may
control  the  IMinistry.  Oral  questions  may  be  asked  a
Minister  at  the  beginning  of  a  session.  They  cannot  be
debated  and  the  author  is  the  only  one  allowed  to  re-
spond to  the  IMinister's  reply.  Written  questions  may
also  be  submitted  to  the  President  of  the  Chamber ;  they
are  printed  in  the  Official  Journal  along  with  the  re-
sponse from  the  proper  minister  within  eight  days.  The
latter,  however,  may  declare  in  writing  that  the  public
interest  does  not  allow  an  answer.  The  chief  means  by
which  Parliament  lays  a  heavy  hand  on  the  cabinet  is
by  the  means  of  "interpellations."  An  interpellation  is
the  act  by  which  a  member  of  either  the  Senate  or  the
Chamber  can  force  a  minister  to  answer  questions  and
generally  to  defend  his  administration.  The  President
of  the  Council  may  even  be  brought  to  defend  the  entire
general  policy  of  the  Government. ^^    Indeed,  interpella-

"  The  following  is  a  summary  of  tlie  Rules  of  the  Chamber  in
regard  to  interpellations:

The  Cliamber  fixes  the  day  upon  which  interpellations  are
heard.  Interpellations  upon  interior  policies  cannot  be  post-
poned more  than  a  month.
No  order  of  tiie  day  motive  upon  interpellations  can  be  pre-
sented unless  it  is  in  writing.
The  order  of  tlie  day  yur  ct  simple,  if  it  is  requested,  always
has  priority.
If  the  order  of  the  day  pur  et  simple  is  not  adopted  and  if
it  is  not  ordered  to  the  bureaus,  the  presitlent  submits  the  order
of  the  day  motive  to  the  vote.
