FRG constitution v Weimar Flashcards
when was the FRG created?
May 1949
what was the FRG constitution called?
the Basic Law
what did the Basic Law stress upon when it came to rights?
wanted to put an emphasis on human and civil rights
how long was the term of a President?
5 years
who elected the President in the FRG?
a special assembly made up of equal members of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat
how powerful was the Bundesprasident?
lacked any political power
mainly ceremonial role
limited emergency powers
difference in Weimar
in Weimar the President was elected every 7 years by the people
President had major political power with the ability to dissolve the Reichstag and use Article 48
how was the parliament system in the FRG similar to Weimar?
it was a two-tiered system:
Bundestag
Bundesrat
what was a constructive vote of no confidence?
when calling a vote of no confidence, the opposition had to have a majority support
AS WELL AS
an alternative government, which also needed a majority to get in
role of Bundesrat in FRG?
was important in assenting legislation
difference in Weimar
Reichstag could easily bring down the chancellor and their government
the Reichsrat was also much more sidelined in Weimar
- could only delay bills
what was the electoral system in the FRG?
mixed-member PR
each voter has 2 votes
the 5% rule was a hurdle which needed to be passed to gain seats
allowed for more stable coalitions
were referendums allowed in FRG?
no
how did the Basic Law uphold pluralism?
it defined the importance of political parties in creating a stable democracy
political parties could not be abolished
differences in Weimar
Weimar was fully PR with nothing to control the extreme parties
plebiscites and referendums were allowed
