Germany : FRG Politics Flashcards
(27 cards)
When was the FRG declared ?
May 1949
Key features the President in the FRG constitution ?
President - Eleceted by state reps, no control over military, limited influence
Key features the Bundestag in the FRG constitution ?
Bundestag - Parties need 5% of the vote to take their seats, set taxes
Key features the Chancellor in the FRG constitution ?
Chancellor - Leader of Largest party, voted by Bundestag ~ need 2/3 of votes to be appointed, can be dismissed by Bundestag through vote of no confidence
Key features of Elections in the FRG constitution ?
PR to elect Bundestag deputies every 4 years
Universal suffrage for 18+
2 votes : 1 for local rep, 1 for a party
Key features the Bundesrat in the FRG constitution ?
Bundesrat - 69 reps of the Lander, each group proportional to the population of the Lander they represent, Federal taxes that affect the Lander must be passed by Bundesrat
Key features the Civil service & Judiciary in the FRG constitution ?
Politically independent, used as political check and balance
Constitutional court able to outlaw extreme parties
What economy did Adenauer and the CDU propose ?
Capitalist free market, (SPD wanted central economy), distanced them from communist system of the GDR
How did the CDU gain votes through culture ?
45% Catholic Population
Strong anti-communist stance
What made the CDU very popular ?
Backed by USA, Adenauer would be fully trusted with Marshall Plan aid
When did Adenauer become the first chancellor of the FRG ?
1949 - 31% of votes for CDU, coalition gov. with FDP and German party
How did Centre Right politics help Adenauer win the 1949 elections ?
Policies were stable and moderate
Anti-communist made him seem a sensible moderate
Supported market based economy
What was significant about Adenauer’s reputation ?
Experienced statesman - 1917 Mayor of Cologne
What were the main weaknesses of the SPD in the 1949 elections ?
Schumacher’s centralised economy was too LW for foreign support
SPD messages called Adenauer an “American Puppet”
What where Adenauer’s actions as Chancellor ?
April 1951 - Germany co-founded the ECSEC, a common market for heavy industry in western Europe
May 1955 - The General Treaty gives FRG control over foreign policy and end military occupation (except Berlin), joins NATO and established army
What was the CDU’s % of the vote in the Sept 1953 election ?
45.2%
What was the Hallstein Doctrine ?
Sept 1955 - West G join NATO in response to USSR’s recognition of the GDR
Doctrine stated that recognition of GDR was a hostile act against FRG and alienated trade opportunities
GDR was labelled a “zone” to isolate and hopefully collapse them
When did Germany co-found the EEC ?
March 1957 - A single market in Western Europe
What happened to Real Wages in 1950s FRG ?
Doubled
What was the result of the September 1957 election ?
CDU wins with 50.2% (First & only majority share in a German Election)
What LW policies damaged Schumacher’s Campaign in 1949 ?
‘Planned Economy’ - Controlled by the federal gov. ~ too close to communist GDR’s approach
Why did Schumacher struggle to gain votes from Catholics ?
CDU IS CATHOLIC - 45% of population are catholic
Called Adenauer as a “Puppet of the Church”, claimed they exploited the catholic population
What did the SPD’s socialist policies alienate ?
Western foreign support which CDU enjoyed
When did Ollenhauer replace Schumacher ?
Aug 1952
