Formation of West Germany

Question 1

The FRG Constitution (Basic Law)

Answer 1

• guaranteed basic freedoms
• Basic Law authors ensured that no dictator could take control
• ensured all governments in the FRG would be democratically elected

Question 2

Representative democracy

Answer 2

• representative democracy (RD) system opted for over a participatory democracy (PD)
• this was to prevent the rise of a dictator
• RD meant that the public elected representatives to make decisions on their behalf
• PD meant that individuals participate in political decisions-making process

Question 3

proportional representation and first past the post system

Answer 3

• a main Weimar Republic problem was proportional representation (PR)
• it meant that small parties had considerable influence through coalition governments
• Basic Law implemented a blend of PR and first past the post to elected people for Bundestag
• ‘first past the post’ is where the person with the most votes in elected even without majority
• Basic Law also required parties to have at least 5% of the vote to be represented in parliament

Question 4

A new constitution

Answer 4

• the FRG constitution was developed between 1948/9
• delegated council from parliament drew up Basic Law, and it was closely look over by Western Powers
• Basic Law was expected to be a temporary thing until Germany was unified
• In May 1949 Basic Law came into force

Question 5

President and Chancellor

Answer 5

• a group of members a from the Bundestag and Lander chose the FRG president
• chancellor also needed to be parliament-approved
• the possibility of anti-democratic leaders was limited by this policy

Question 6

1949 election - CDU

Answer 6

• christian democratic union
• led by Konrad Adenauer
• cross-confessional appeal and conservative values
• it had a focus on families, social welfare, and defending the Republic against communism

Question 7

1949 election results

Answer 7

• August 1949
• 78.5% turnout (very high)
• CDU got 31%
• SPD got 29.2%
• government was formed by Adenauer and became Chancellor

Question 8

1949 election - SPD

Answer 8

• social democratic party
• led by Kurt Schumacher
• wanted united and socialist Germany
• Adenauer was accused of being a puppet of the Allied powers by Schumacher