ABSTRACT
The ministers are the principal repositories of such powers, but they are conferred to a smaller extent upon local bodies and various institutions. The ministerial tribunals and judicial and quasi-judicial functions exercised by the ministers themselves deserve particular attention, in that the tendency is for them to increase in number and importance. Besides these judicial functions, performed by ministerial tribunals, there are also functions of a similar nature exercised by the ministers themselves. In addition to the legislative and judicial powers vested in the ministers, they also enjoy extensive rights of inquiry. The present devolution of powers to ministers is somewhat haphazard. From the point of view of the individual there seems no question but that in broad outline the powers now exercised by the ministers in the Free State are despotic. The practice of devolving powers upon the ministers shows that this assumption has been justified.
