Germany 1871-90 Bismarck Flashcards
Sovereignty in the German Empire rested in whose hands?
Twenty-two rulers and the senates of three free cities, who created the Empire by a voluntary act of association. The Empire did not emanate from the will of the people.
When was the German national day?
Commemoration of the Battle of Sedan - Unification linked to Prussian militarism
Who was German Emperor and what were his powers?
The King of Prussia (unequal distribution of power). Head of the imperial executive and civil service and supreme war-lord of all the armed forces of the Empire.
William Carr’s definition of the structure of the German Empire
The Reich was an uneasy compromise between the forces of conservative federalism, the liberal unity principle and the military might of Prussia.
What was the Bundesrat and what was it made up of?
The Federal council. An assembly of ambassadors from the various states. States were represented in accordance to with size and power. Prussia had seventeen of the fifty-eight seats, Bavaria six and the smaller states one each.
What were the powers of the Bundesrat?
It was the executive body of the Empire. Its consent was necessary for all legislation, it could veto constitutional changes, and foreign policy was, in theory, supervised by a special Bundesrat committee.
Limitations of the Bundesrat
Prussia could veto any legislation as fourteen votes constituted a veto. So could all the other states if they all voted against something but in reality the smaller states never opposed Prussia on important issues. Bundesrat meetings were held in private and were always presided over by the emperor or the chancellor.
What was the Reichstag and how was it elected?
Parliament. Elected by universal suffrage. Represented a concession to the spirit of mass democracy and symbolised the unity of the Empire.
Powers of the Reichstag
It shared legislative power with the Bundesrat as well as the right to review annually all non-military expenditure (which made up less than ten percent of the total expenditure). In 1874 Bismarck grudgingly allowed the Reichstag to review the army grants every seven years. The Reichstag after 1890 became the focal point of German politics. And it was able to exert more influence - even if only of a negative nature - on the government’s policies than either the Russian Duma or the Austrian Reichsrat ever exerted on their respective governments.
Limitations of the Reichstag
As Reichstags were triennial, only alternate Reichstags could exercise control over military expenditure. 7 years intended to give generous over-budgeting of the military, erring with caution. Imperial ministers were not accountable to the Reichstag. Normally they were members of the Bundesrat and were specifically excluded from sitting in the Reichstag.
Karl Liebknecht’s description of the Reichstag
A fig leaf covering the nakedness of absolutism
Power of the chancellor
Chief imperial officer, exercised the enormous executive power vested in the emperor and the Bundesrat. The constitution referred to the chancellor as a ‘responsible’ officer; but this was of little significance as the Reichstag never defined the term. Chancellors were not obliged to act upon resolutions passed by the Reichstag; votes of no-confidence could not remove them from office. Bismarck alone had the right to appear in the Reichstag and explain and defend imperial policy.
Basis of the chancellor’s power
They were appointed by the emperor and remained in office as long as he reposed confidence in them. The other basis of the chancellor’s power lay in Prussia; the office of the chancellor usually combined with the minister-in-presidency of Prussia. Bismarck relinquished control of this office for a few months in 1873 but soon changed his mind once he realised that his effective power was derived from the minister-presidency rather than the chancellorship.
Prussification of Imperial government
Ideally, Bismarck would have liked Prussian ministers to hold all the corresponding offices in the imperial administration. But close personal union of this kind was opposed by other states resentful of the growing power of the chancellery. However, Bismarck went some way towards achieving this in 1878 when the growing volume of work necessitated a vice-chancellor and Secretaries of State to supervise the new imperial departments in the chancellery. Bismarck firmly resisted attempts to make the secretaries responsible to ministers. They remained senior clerks under the old man’s orders.
Limitations on the chancellory
They were obliged to secure Reichstag support for their own legislative proposals. Bismarck accepted these limitations on his power.
The necessity of the Reichstag
Bismarck appreciated that the Reichstag was a useful device for maintaining in good order the delicate balance between a unitary Empire and the forces of federalism; and it was generally realised in ruling circles that the active co-operation of a popularly elected body was almost essential for the smooth running of a modern state.
Lack of necessity of the Reichstag
Co-operation with Reichstag was a matter of sheer expediency to Bismarck. EXAMPLE - WHEN HE DISSOLVED IT AFTER ASSASSINATION ATTEMPTS
Crown Princess Victoria Quotation
he is medieval altogether and the true theories of liberty and of government are Hebrew to him though he adopts and admits a democratic idea or measure now and then when he thinks it will serve his purpose.
Modest beginnings
At a time when the balance of power was tilted sharply in favour of monarchy, when the working class was hostile to the Empire and the middle class was deeply respectful (resentful?) of authority, these modest beginnings were perhaps all that could be expected at this stage in German constitutional development.
Imperial responsibilities
The imperial government was responsible for defence, customs, coinage, banking, communications and the civil and criminal codes. It was dependent for its revenue on indirect taxes.
State residual powers
Power over education, justice, agriculture, relations with the churches and local government. Only the states could levy direct taxation.
