Early FRG politics Flashcards
When was the Basic Law introduced?
May 1949
What was the role of the Bundestag under the basic law?
598 deputies. Elected every four years by universal suffrage - 50% directly elected through First-Past-The-Post system and 50% through party lists, according to their proportion of the vote. However a party needed to win over 5% of the vote to qualify for representation.
What was the role of the Bundesrat under the basic law?
69 representatives from each state - had power to approve/veto legislation.
What was the role of the President under the basic law?
Ceremonial head of state, elected by the Bundestag and representatives from the state parliaments. Maximum of two terms of office, each one of five years.
What was the role of the Chancellor under the basic law?
The head of government and elected by the Bundestag. Could only be removed by a constructive vote of no confidence in the Bundestag.
What was the role of the Federal Constitutional Court under the basic law?
Modelled on the US Supreme Court i.e. to protect the constitution and mediate in disputes between federal and state governments.
What Civil Liberties were given under the Basic Law?
Guaranteed freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement. Guaranteed citizenship for all people of German descent.
How was the power of the Chancellor limited by the Basic Law?
Could be forced out of office by a constructive vote of no confidence, which required a new Chancellor to be immediately voted in, thereby avoiding a leadership vacuum.
What was the consequence of the 5% rule?
Prevented extremist parties being elected to parliament
What could be done with extremist parties under the Basic Law?
Any political parties not in line with the constitution could be banned
What were the turnouts for the 1949, 1953 and 1957 elections?
1949 - 78.5%, 1953 - 86%, 1957 - 87.8%
What was the CDU’s vote share in the 1949, 1953 and 1957 election
31%, 45.2% and 50.2% respectively
Who did the CDU form coalitions with?
The FDP
What were the aims/policies of the CDU?
Create a political grouping open to all religious denominations. They partly blamed the past divisions between Protestants and Catholics for the political fragmentation of the Weimar era. An economy that allowed capitalist competition but also provided a safety net for the poor - the “social market economy. Anti-communist, pro-American, supportive of European integration.
What were the aims/policies of the CSU?
More conservative than the CDU. Opposed the division of Germany into two states and refused to sign the Basic Law that which effectively finalised this.
