Strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution Flashcards
When was the democratic government established in Germany?
31st of July 1919
The new Constitution was drawn up in Weimar instead of Berlin due to unrest.
Who is the head of state in the Weimar Republic?
President
The President was elected every seven years.
What are some important powers of the President in the Weimar Republic?
- Chose the Chancellor
- Could suspend the Constitution
- Passed laws by decree
Who is the head of government in the Weimar Republic?
Chancellor
The Chancellor chose all government ministers.
What is the main decision-making body of the Weimar government?
Cabinet
What are the two houses of the Parliament in the Weimar Republic?
- Reichstag
- Reichsrat
What is the role of the Reichstag in the Weimar Republic?
- More powerful house
- Controlled taxation
- Directly elected by the people at least once every four years
What is the role of the Reichsrat in the Weimar Republic?
- Elected every four years
- Represented the regions of Germany
- Each region sent representatives based on size
Who comprised the electorate in the Weimar Republic?
All men and women of 21 years old and over
What is one strength of the Weimar Constitution?
- Proportional representation ensured small parties had a fair share of seats
What voting rights were established under the Weimar Constitution?
- Women able to vote
- Voting age reduced from 25 to 21
What mechanism was in place to prevent any one group from having too much power?
Regular elections for president every seven years
What was a weakness of the Weimar Constitution regarding coalition governments?
Proportional representation led to unstable coalition governments
What issue arose from the lack of strong government in the Weimar Republic?
Presidents passed laws without prior consent of the Reichstag
What article of the Weimar Constitution allowed the President to pass laws without Reichstag consent?
Article 48
True or False: The Weimar Constitution was widely popular among the people.
False
It was not chosen by the people, leading to lack of popularity.
