The constitution of the German Republic Flashcards
President - Head of State
> Appoints chancellor.
> Elected every 7 years by men and women over the age of 20.
> Appointed and dismissed ministers and could dissolve the Reichstag and call new elections.
> Supreme commander of the armed forces.
> Had reserve powers (Article 48) to rule by decree in an emergency without the Reichstag’s consent.
Chancellor
> Also known as Minister-President.
> Drafts laws for the Reichstag to debate.
> Had to have the support of at least half the Reichstag.
> Proposed new laws to the Reichstag.
The Reichstag
> Elected every 4 years by all Germans over 20 using proportional representation.
> The chancellor and ministers were responsible to the Reichstag.
> Voted on the budget; new laws had to originate in the Reichstag and required the approval of a majority of Reichstag deputies.
The Reichsrat
> Provides advice to the chancellor.
> The second chamber of the German parliament, made up of 67 representatives from the separate 17 states (Länder)
> Each state represented in proportion to its population, but no state to have more than 40% of the seats (to prevent domination by the largest state, Prussia).
> Could provide advice on laws but could be overridden by the Reichstag.
Individual voter’s rights
> Vote for local state assembly every 4 years and for the President every 7 years.
> Vote occasionally on important issues.
> ‘All Germans are equal before the law’.
> Guaranteed the freedoms of speech, of conscience and of travel.
> Guaranteed the right to belong to trade unions, political parties and other forms of organisation.
> Guaranteed the right to work and employees were given equal rights with employers to determine working conditions and wages.
> Had the responsibility to use their intellectual and physical powers in the interests of the community.
Other features
> There was a supreme court, independent of the Reichstag and the President.
> The Republic had a federal system whereby there were separate state governments in the 17 Länder which kept control over their own internal affairs.
