COMMONWEALTH 371

ten years ruled the country. Mr. De Valera's followers reorganised
themselves as the Fianna Fail (Comrades of Destiny) Party, and
became a legal opposition. They drew support from those whose
hostility to the British connection was strongest, and came in
time to represent the interests of the less wealthy farmers. In
1932 they won an election, and Mr. De Valera proceeded to sever
the links that tied the Free State to Britain. His work reached its
climax in the promulgation of a new Constitution which came into
force at the end of 1937, and in accordance with which the
Dominion is now'governed.

By this Constitution, the name of the State is Eire (Ireland)
and it is declared to include the whole country, though the
authority of its Government is not to extend to Northern Ireland
until an agreement with that Province is obtained.. Thus is
expressed Mr. De Valera's aspiration for a united Ireland in the
future. A President, elected directly by the people1 for a seven
year term, appoints the Prime Minister and approves the tetter's
choice of Ministers, all of whom must be members of the
Oireachtas (Parliament). This body has two Houses—Dail
Eireann (Assembly of Ireland) elected in the usual manner, and
the Seanad (Senate) of sixty members, eleven nominated by the
President, and the remainder elected. If the Senate and one third
of the Dail object to a Bill, the President may if he wishes refuse
his assent until a Referendum or a new election has been held.
The President can also ask the Supreme Court to give an opinion
on any Bill which he considers contrary to the Constitution,
and if they hold it to be unconstitutional, it will not become law.
The President has thus powers which distinguish him from the
King in Britain, or Governors-General in the other Dominions.
On some matters, he must consult a Council of State before
acting, but is not bound by their advice. Some of the members
of this Council are appointed by the President, others are members
ex-officio. The Oath of Allegiance had previously been abolished,

1 In May, 3^38, Dr. Douglas Hyde was elected unopposed as the first
President under the new Constitution,