the 1871 constitution Flashcards
Who was the Kaiser?
Hereditary monarch-always the king of Prussia
What powers did the Kaiser have? (5 things)
- Appointed/dismissed chancellors
- Commanded the army directly
- Controlled foreign policy
- Gave assent to all laws
- Had the final say in any dispute over the constitution
Who appointed/dismissed the government?
The Kaiser
Who were the government responsible to?
The Kaiser
What were the governments purpose?
Decided outline of policy
How were members of the Reichstag elected?
Elected by males over 25 years old
What did the deputies have?
Right to free speech
How often were elections for the Reichstag held
Every 3 years
What could the Reichstag do? (2 things)
- Gave content to all laws
- Could question, debate, agree to or reject a law proposed by a chancellor
What could the Reichstag not do?
- Amend a law
- Demand the dismissal of the chancellors or any other ministers
What was the Reichstag sometimes know as?
The lower house
What was the Bundersrat sometimes known as?
The upper house
How many members made up the upper house?
58
Who were the upper house presided by?
The chancellor
Could the upper house initially legislation?
Yes
How were decisions decided in the Bundersrat?
By majority vote except for any proposal to alter the constitution which needed a majority of 14
What could members of the upper house do?
Veto all legislation except a budget approved by the Reichstag
Give approval to the Kaiser for a declaration of war
Approve all new laws
What did article 17 of the constitution state?
It was the duty of the Kaiser to ‘prepare and publish the laws of the Empire and to supervise their execution’
What special prerogative powers did tbe emporer have?
The right to declare war or martial war in the case of an emergency
How did the constitution describe the position of chancellor?
‘Responsible officer’
what was this new constitution dependent on?
an able chancellor and a Kaiser who could forma strong working partnership with the chancellor
what did this new constitution combine?
autocratic features with an elected body
who were the national liberal founded by?
those who supported Bismarck’s policy of unification
who were the national liberals supported by and what did they favour?
wealthy, well educated people. they favoured free trade, a strong Germany and a constitutional liberal state
what happened to the national liberals after 1875 and why?
grew more conservative as its members felt threatened by the growing SDP
when was the Zentrum party founded?
1870
who did the Zentrum party represent?
German Catholics and minorities who were opposed to Bismarck
what were the Zentrum party beliefs?
they were determined to preserve the position of the catholic church
conservative regarding the constitution
favoured greater decentralisation
who did the SDP represent?
the working class
what did the SDP want?
reduction in power of the elites and an extension of the welfare reforms
who made up the German Conservative party
the protestant and aristocratic Prussian Junker landowners
which political group was the most right wing?
German Conservative party
who did the free conservatives represent?
landowners, industrialists and businessmen
what did the progressives believe in?
a liberal, constitutional state
disliked centralism and militarism so was not very supportive of Bismarck
what were the strengths of the constitution?
- article 3 considered everyone equal
- article 20 men over 25 elected by secret ballot
what were the weaknesses of this constitution?
-article 11 controlled foreign policy
-in the bundesrat, constitution could be altered with a majority of 14 votes (Prussia had 17)
