Government + The Weimar Constitution

Question 1

Who do the Germany people elect?

Answer 1

The Parliament (Reichstag) and the President

Question 2

Who is the Chancellor chosen by?

Answer 2

The President and the Parliament (Reichstag)

Question 3

How often was the President elected and by who?

Answer 3

Every 7 years by men and women over the age of 20

Question 4

What were the 3 main powers of the President?

Answer 4

• Supreme commander of the armed forces
• Appointed and dismissed ministers and could dissolve the Reichstag and call new elections
• Had reserved powers in an emergency to rule by decree without Reichstag’s consent (Article 48)

Question 5

How much of the Reichstag did the Chancellor have to have the support of?

Answer 5

At least half

Question 6

What did the Chancellor do with the Reichstag?

Answer 6

Propose new laws

Question 7

How often were the Reichstag elected and by who?

Answer 7

Elected every 4 years by men and women over 20, using proportional representation

Question 8

Who were responsible to the Reichstag?

Answer 8

The Chancellor and ministers

Question 9

What did new laws have to have in order to pass in the Reichstag?

Answer 9

Originate in the Reichstag and have approval of a moajority of Reichstag deputies

Question 10

What could Germany people vote for?

Answer 10

• Local state authority every 4 years (Reichstag)
• President every 7 years
• Occassionally on important issues

Question 11

What 3 freedoms were German people guaranteed?

Answer 11

Speech, conscience and travel

Question 12

What two guaranteed rights were the German people given?

Answer 12

• Right to work and employees were given equal rights with employers to determine working conditions and wages
• Right to belong to trade unions, political parties and other forms of organisations

Question 13

What was the Reichstrat?

Answer 13

The second chamber of the German parliament, made up of 67 representatives from the seperate 17 states (Länder)

Question 14

Each state was represented to its population in the Reichstrat but no more than what percent of the seats and why?

Answer 14

No more than 40% of the seats to prevent domination by the largest state Prussia

Question 15

What could the Reichstrat do?

Answer 15

Could provide advice on laws but could be overridden by the Reichstag

Question 16

There was a supreme court, independant from who?

Answer 16

The Reichstag and President

Question 17

The Republic had a federal system, what was it?

Answer 17

There were seperate state governments in the 17 Länder which kept control over their own internal affairs

Question 18

When waz the election of the National Assembly who woulf write a constitution for the new republic?

Answer 18

January 1919

Question 19

What are the three branches of the government, which would be elected and which appointed?

Answer 19

Executive, legislative and judical

Executive and legislative elected by the people

Judical appointed

Question 20

What percentage of a vote did a party need to get a deputy?

Answer 20

1% - the more votes the more deputies

Question 21

Who decided who the representatives would be of a party?

Answer 21

The party officials, not the voters

Question 22

In the 14 years between 1919 and 1933, the Weimar Republic had how many different legislatures?

Answer 22

20

Question 23

What is a constiteunt assembly?

Answer 23

A body or assembly of popular elected representatives which is assembled for the purpose of drafting or adopting a constitution or similar document then being disbanded after

Question 24

What is a constitution?

Answer 24

Fundamental principles or established precedents that constitute the legal basis of an organisation or other type of entity and commonly determine how that entity is to be governed

Question 25

Who was elected as the first President of the Republic?

Answer 25

Ebert

Question 26

Who led the new government?

Answer 26

Philip Scheidermann

Question 27

Who was the constitution drafted by?

Answer 27

Hugo Preuss

Question 28

What are 3 weaknesses to the Weimar constitution?

Answer 28

• Proportional representation leads to coalition governments which often break apart then require a new government
• Chancellor handles day to day running of the country, chancellor is not voted for by the people
• Despite promoting equality, still had discriminating laws against himosexuals and gypsies

Question 29

What are 3 threats of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 29

• Article 48, President decides if there is an emergency or not, powers could be abused by president
• Chancellor not chosen by the people, corrupt Chancellor could be chosen by corrupt President
• Social welfare was expensive - increase taxes

Question 30

What are 3 oppurtunities of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 30

• Reichstag can withdraw their confidence in a chancellor or minister which they then have to resign
• Constitution can be changed but only if ⅔ of those present in the legal number of members consent
• Reichstag could regain power by calling for a new election

Question 31

What are 3 strengths of the Weimar constitution?

Answer 31

• No single state should have more than ⅖ of the total number of votes
• Every state has to have a republican constitution elected equally
• Diverse set of beliefs used when writing the constitution, even ones who didn’t believe in democracy at all