Chapter 1 - The Establishment of the Constitution Flashcards
Republic
A government where there is a president rather than a monarch
Armistice
An agreement to suspend fighting in order to make a peace treaty
Constitution
The rules which set out how a government should work and what powers each person has
Mutiny
A revolt by soldiers or sailors against their orders
Constituent assembly
An elected government who decide how government should work
Proportional representation
When voting across the country is added up, rather than constituencies
Autocracy
A type of government where one person holds most of the power
Who was made Chancellor after the October Reforms?
Prince Max of Baden
What year were the October Reforms?
1918
When did the Kaiser abdicate?
9th November 1918
When was the armistice signed?
11th November 1918
Which centre-left party was popular amongst the working class?
The SPD
Name two right wing parties
DVP and DNVP
How was the new constitution more democratic than the monarchy?
Reichstag elected every 4 years, Chancellor elected every 7 years, universal suffrage
What were some limitations to the democracy of the new constitution?
The President had emergency powers that could be abused (Article 48), and could dissolve the Reichstag
Systems such as the judiciary, civil service and the army remained undemocratic
When was the Kiel Mutiny?
3rd November 1918
When did Bavaria become a socialist republic?
8th November 1918
When was the Ebert-Groener pact signed and what did it entail?
10th November 1918
The army would support the new republic so long as the army remained undemocratic and the government would protect Germany against communist revolution
When was the election to first assembly?
19th January 1919
What was the role of the President?
Elected every 7 years
Could call and dissolve the Reichstag
Had emergency powers (Article 48)
What was the role of the Chancellor?
Head of the Reichstag
Had to have the support of at least half the Reichstag
Normally the leader of the largest party
What was the role of the Reichstag?
Elections every 4 years
The Chancellor had to get the Reichstag to agree to new laws
What was the role of the Reichsrat?
State government made up of representatives from each of the Länder
Could give advice on laws but could be overridden by the Reichstag
What were the main Weimar political parties from Left to Right?
KPD
USPD
SPD
DDP
Z
DVP
DNVP
