OVERCOMING CHALLENGES TO THE CONSTITUTION 1918-29 - Challenges

Question 1

How could parties gain a seat?

Answer 1

60,000 votes = 1 seat in the Reichstag

Question 2

Method of gaining seat good/bad?

Answer 2

very democratic
BUT
meant more parties which meant more difficult for the Reichstag to work effectively

Question 3

How many parties in the Reichstag during …?

Answer 3

29 different political parties during the 1920’s
+ also members moved between parties/ some parties split altogether

Question 4

e.g. of splitting party

Answer 4

1920 - USPD split over policy and half joined KPD

shifts confused voters

Question 5

How did Hitler use other parties shifting to his advantage?

Answer 5

early in his political career used simple slogan, repeated it + stuck it on posters
- meant NSDAP won as many votes as quickly as it did

Question 6

What were the 2 other issues w the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 6

Proportional Representation
Parties unable to get a majority

Question 7

Problem w proportional representation

Answer 7

meant ppl voted for a party in 1/35 large electoral areas rather than 1 person in their area (like mps)
- if a member died/resigned there was not a by-election to replace them just the next person on the list took their place

to many it felt like there was lots of politicians but none specifically interested in them

Question 8

Problem w parties unable to get a majority

Answer 8

All of the Weimar govs had to form coalition govs
1919-23 = 9 different short-lived coalition govs
+ each party spent time tryna get of a coalition rather than focusing on working together

different parties = different aims so gov spent lots of time arguing before laws could even be presented to the Reichstag

when coalition broke down chancellor had to ask president to use article 48
- but only intended for emergency so gov looked like in constant state of crisis