***FRG government Flashcards
What did the Basic Law ensure?
Equal rights to all citizens, free speech, freedom to form. unions and other groups, free assembly, state education for all.
What did Article 20 of the Basic Law declare?
That the FRG was a democracy. State authority is derived from the people and shall be exercised by the people through elections.
What did Article 21 of the Basic Law declare?
That political parties must reform to democratic principles. Those which undermine democracy shall be abolished.
Who was Head of State in the FRG?
The President
How was the Head of State put into power?
The President was chosen by a representative convention every 5 years.
How much power did the President supposedly have?
Limited power, largely formal and symbolic.
Which 2 groups made up German Parliament?
The Bundestag and Bundesrat.
What did the Bundestag do?
Approved the Chancellor and passed laws.
What did the Bundesrat do?
Local government: Helped to form laws. It was made up of representatives from the Lander. The Bundesrat could veto the Bundestag.
How was the Chancellor appointed and dismissed in the FRG?
Appointed by the President but needed parliamentary approval. The Chancellor could not be dismissed by the president unless a new chancellor was voted in. If the Chancellor did not have parliamentary support new elections would be held.
What was the electoral system referred to as?
A representative democracy
What was the only valid reasoning for the banning of political parties?
If their aims were un-democratic (Article 21).
How was the Bundestag elected?
A combination of proportional representation and first past the post.
How much of the vote did parties have to gain before they were represented in parliament?
5%
How did the Allies force Germans to confront their guilt?
They were forced to visit opened concentration camps and assist with burials.
How many ex-Nazis were arrested and held in prison by late 1946?
250,000
What was a major focus of de-nazification?
The Nuremberg Trials - An international court which presided over war crimes of Nazis.
When were the Nuremberg Trials?
1945-46
What happened to Nazis at the first of the Nuremberg Trials?
10 Nazis were sentenced to death (Goering committed suicide the night before).
Why did many ex-Nazis escape punishment?
They were useful in an anti-Communist role.
What was given to most Nazis after 1951?
Amnesties (a pardon for offences).
What could ex-Nazis buy on the black market?
Character references which could be used in their defence.
What was the difference in punishment of Germans in the different occupational zones.
In the British zone only 1.3% of Germans were punished an in the French only 2.6% whereas the Americans were more zealous in prosecuting.
What did the task of de-nazification prove to be for the Allies?
Too big of a task - they increasingly handed judgements over to local German authorities.
What did the Allies become more concerned with after 1948?
Containing Communism - less interested in de-nazification.
What were destroyed in the de-nazification programme?
Symbols of Nazi rule such as the Swastika at the Nuremberg stadium.
What happened to most leading Nazis?
They were able to use their connections to escape justice, while less important Nazis were caught and punished. This created resentment and undermined the process.
When was the de-nazification process called to a halt?
1951
When did the first federal elections take place?
August 1949
What was the outcome of the 1949 election?
The CDU/CSU emerged with a narrow victory, gaining 139 seats compared to the SPD’s 131 seats. Adenauer became the first chancellor of the FRG.
Which party did Adenauer belong to?
CDU
What were the 3 main parties?
CDU/CSU (centre, Christian), SPD (left) and FDP (liberals)
