Editing Duchy of Anhalt (section)

====Constitution====
The duchy, by virtue of a fundamental law, proclaimed on September 17, 1859 and subsequently modified by various [[decree]]s, was a [[constitutional monarchy]]. The duke, who was addressed as "Highness," wielded the executive power while sharing the [[legislation]] with the [[Estates of the realm|estates]]. The [[diet (assembly)|diet]] ([[Landtag]]) was composed of thirty-six members, of whom two were appointed by the duke, eight were representatives of landowners paying the highest taxes, two of the highest assessed members of the commercial and manufacturing classes, fourteen of the other electors of the towns and ten of the rural districts. The representatives were chosen for six years by indirect vote and must have completed their twenty-fifth year. The duke governed through a [[minister of state]], who was the [[praeses]] of all the departments—finance, home affairs, education, public worship and statistics.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=45}}