Weimar Constitution Flashcards
(6 cards)
When was the Weimar Constitution established
11 August 1919
What were two flaws of the Weimar Constitution
Proportional representation and Article 48 - the presidential decree
What is proportional representation
Instead of voting for jsut one person or member of parliament, Weimar Germans voted for a party. Each party was then allocated seats in the Reichstag exactly reflecting the number of people who had voted for it
What was the presidential decree
Article 48 was an emergency decree stating that the President can, in times of emergency, suspend civil liberties, issue laws without consulting the Reichstag and use the army to restore order
What was the flaw of proportional representation
As many parties were forced to work together, it made it hard to pass laws as parties had conflicting views
What was the flaw of Article 48
This power was intended to be used in times of crisis, but it was frequently used in situations where the Reichstag couldn’t agree, leading to a weakening of democratic processes and public trust. The overuse of Article 48 paved the way for the rise of authoritarian rule, ultimately contributing to the downfall of the Weimar Republic.
