 Despite threats from the ultra-militant members of the Republican Party and the Carbonária, King Manuel courageously took responsibility for upholding the institutions of the State and the rule of law.Although Manuel II was concerned with the "Questão Social" (Social Issues) of the day (the working class, social reform, and social security programs) he would have little time to enact many new initiatives.After general elections on 28 August 1910, Republican party representation had grown only to 14 deputies in the Chamber of Deputies, the lower house of the "Cortes".