The Second Reich's constitution Flashcards
(11 cards)
List 3 facts about Prussia
It was the largest and most powerful German state in the Second Reich.
Befroe 1871, an independent state
It was Abolished in 1945
What powers did the Kaiser have? Name 5
Commander and chief of the army
In charge of foreign policy
He could appoint and dismiss the Chancellor (prime minister) and government ministers
He could dissolve the Reichstag
Was presisdent of the federal council (Bundesrat)
Who was was the architect of the constitution?
Bismarck
Who ruled Germany from 1888 to 1918?
Kaiser Wilhelm II
What social class did the Chancellor tend to come from?
What was the Chancellor responsible for?
Was the Chancellor accountable to the parliament?
Wilhelm tended to appoint members of the Prussian aristocracy, the Junkers to there positions.
The Chancellor was responsible for presenting legislation to parliament and Chancellor and ministers implemented laws.
The Chancellor was only accountable to the Kaiser, not the parliament.
Who had the vote in the Second Reich?
All men over the age of 25
What was the democratic element of the Second Reich’s constitution?
The Reichstag members were elected
All men over the age of 25 had the vote.
What power did the Reichstag hold?
Could accept, reject or amend legislation.
How was the Bundesrat (federal council) undemocratic?
Bismarck engineered the composition of this body to ensure the dominance of Prussian conservatives.
Many of the powers of the Kaiser were supposed to be shared with the Bundesrat but the composition of the council meant that Kaiser Wilhelm was able to control it.
What type of constitution did the Second Reich have?
What did this mean?
Germany had a federal constitution this meant that individual states had considerable powers to determine the nature of their local political arrangements and to run education, health care and local policing.
Who was the Army accountable to?
Only to the Kaiser, they swore an oath of allegiance to him and not to the government.
