Strengths and weaknesses of new weimar const. Flashcards
How was the Weimar Constitution democratic?
It granted universal suffrage, allowing all men and women over 20 to vote, and ensured fair representation through proportional representation.
How did proportional representation reflect political diversity in the Weimar Republic?
Proportional representation allowed political views to be fairly represented by allocating seats based on the percentage of votes each party received.
What balance of power was included in the Weimar Constitution?
The President was directly elected and held significant powers, while the Reichstag controlled legislation, ensuring a system of checks and balances.
Why did proportional representation cause instability?
It led to a fragmented parliament with many small parties, making it difficult to form stable majority governments.
How did proportional representation enable extremist parties to gain influence?
Extremist parties, even with a small percentage of votes, could gain seats in the Reichstag, giving them a platform to disrupt democracy.
What was the danger of Article 48 in the Weimar Constitution?
Article 48 allowed the President to rule by decree in an emergency, which could be abused, as seen with Hitler’s rise to power.
Why did the Weimar government lack support from the start?
The government was associated with Germany’s defeat in World War I and the unpopular Treaty of Versailles, leading to widespread discontent.
How did conservative judges and leaders weaken the Weimar Republic?
Many conservative judges and officials tolerated or ignored anti-democratic actions, allowing extremists to operate with little consequence.
