Impact of the new Germany's constitution:

Question 1

Who was the Kaiser?

Answer 1

Wilhelm I of Prussia

Question 2

What powers did the Kaiser have?

Answer 2

• Appointed and dismissed government
• Could dissolve Reichstag
• Controlled foreign policy and armed forces
• Could interpret the constitution

Question 3

Who elected the Reichstag? how often?

Answer 3

All men over 25, every 5 years

Question 4

What powers did the Reichstag have?

Answer 4

• Could agree/reject laws proposed by Kaiser or government

- Controlled the budget

Question 5

Who appointed and dismissed the Chancellor?

Answer 5

the Kaiser

Question 6

What power did the Chancellor have?

Answer 6

• Not dependent on Reichstag support to stay in office

- Could ignore the Reichstag

Question 7

What did the Chancellor do?

Answer 7

• Proposed new laws to Reichstag

- Chaired sessions of the Bundesrat

Question 8

How many members did the Bundesrat have?

Answer 8

58 members:

• 17 Prussian
• 6 Bavarian
• 1 each for other states

Question 9

How many votes did the Bundesrat need to veto Reichstag legislation?

Answer 9

only 14

Question 10

Why was a new constitution (albeit with Prussian dominance) necessary?

Answer 10

The 1/3 Catholic population felt discriminated against

Question 11

Although each of the 22 individual monarchs had substantial powers, why did Prussia still dominate?

Answer 11

The emperor was the King of Prussia

Question 12

Despite the constitution, why were the individual sovereigns not equal?

Answer 12

the Kaiser controlled the civil service and the military

Question 13

What other power did the Kaiser have?

Answer 13

proclaim imperial laws (superseded state laws)

Question 14

How was Germany economically unified?

Answer 14

• single German currency

- railway system linked between states

Question 15

Which armies formed the German army?

Answer 15

Those of:

• Prussia
• Bavaria
• Saxony
• Württemberg

Question 16

Who controlled the armies?

Answer 16

• Peacetime: each army swore allegiance to their king

- Wartime: Kaiser and the Prussian command took over

Question 17

Who controlled the armies of the other states?

Answer 17

Prussia

Question 18

How was Germany politically unified?

Answer 18

• national legal system

- national civil service (for all states to use)

Question 19

The 1871 constitution established Germany as a federal state, under the dominance of whom?

Answer 19

Prussia

Question 20

How many Länder (states) were there?

Answer 20

25

Question 21

How were the Länder powers affected by the 1871 constitution?

Answer 21

• allowed to retain their constitutions

Question 22

What aspects did the individual Länder retain control over?

Answer 22

• education
• transport
• direct taxation
• policing
• health

Question 23

How were the southern states specifically affected by the constitution?

Answer 23

• retained their own railway and postal systems

- exempt from taxes on beer and spirits

Question 24

What aspects did the national government have control over?

Answer 24

• national tariffs
• banking system
• foreign policy
• economic policy

Question 25

How did the Bundestag benefit Prussia (aside from majority of deputies)?

Answer 25

could use the veto powers to get rid of unfavourable legislation

Question 26

How was the Prussian Landtag elected?

Answer 26

The lowest taxpayers (85% of electorate) and the highest taxpayers (5% of electorate) elected 1/3 each

Question 27

What helped to ensure Prussian Junker dominance over German politics?

Answer 27

• In Prussia, people voted for an electoral college (instead of individuals), who decided the members of the Landtag
• Kaiser had supreme control over military and government appointments