Bismarck Flashcards
1
Q
When was Bismarck’s ‘rule’?
A
1871-1890
2
Q
What did Bismarck intend for Prussia’s place in the Reich?
A
-Intended Prussian domiance
3
Q
How did Prussia dominate at the start of the Reich?
A
- Possessed 60% of Germanys population and 2/3 of it’s territory
- Had 235 deputies out of 397 in Reichstag
- 17 seats in the Bundesrat so it could block any unwanted constitutional measures
- Prussian King was new Emperor = was head of the imperial executive, civil service and supreme warlord of Reich’s armed forces
4
Q
How did Prussia dominate the Reich?
A
- Prussian and imperial institutions were extreamly intertwined = Prussian minister of war was also imperial minister of war
- Prussian aristocracy held a dominant position politically, militarily and administrativly
- Prussian state parliment was dominated by the aristocrcy
5
Q
What voting system was used in the Bismarckian constitution?
A
Three-class system
6
Q
Powers of the Emperor
A
- Always the King of Prussia
- Could appoint and dismiss a Chancellor
- Dissolve RS
- Controlled foreign policy
- Commanded the army
- Could make treaties and alliances
- Supervised the execution of all federal law
7
Q
Powers of the Chancellor
A
- Chief Minister of the Reich
- Only responsible to emperor
- Decided upon Reich policy outlines
- Chaired sessions of the Bundesrat
- Could ‘hire and fire’ state secretaries responsible for the various gov ministries
- Could ignore resolutions passed by the RS
- Office was normally combined with the Minister Presidency of Prussia
8
Q
Federal
A
Centralised government with specific responsibilities for the Reich as a whole e.g. Foreign affairs, defence, civil and criminal law, customs, railways, postal service
9
Q
State
A
Regional government with specific responsibilities for individual states e.g. Education, transport, police, health
