The New German Constitution Of The FRG Flashcards
What is the new constitution known as?
The Fundamental or Basic Law
What was the President like in the FRG?
Elected by state representatives every 5 years
Influence was severely limited compared to Weimar
No control over military - had been disbanded following the end of the war
What was the role of the Bundestag in FRG?
Parties had to gain at least 5% of the vote to take their seats in the Bundestag to avoid smaller (extremist) parties having influence
Set federal taxes
What were elections like in the FRG?
Proportional representation used to elect deputies to the Bundestag every 4 years
Men and women over 18 could vote
Electorate voted twice - once for a direct representative for their electoral district and another for a party list
What was the role of the chancellor in the FRG?
Leader of the largest party/coalition in the Bundestag
Could be removed by a vote of no confidence by the Bundestag only if a new chancellor had been elected by the Bundestag - known as a ‘constructive vote of confidence’
Power of article 48 removed and no ability to suspend the Bundestag or change the constitution
What was the Bundesrat in the FRG?
Made up of representatives of the Länder
Not directly elected but representatives were proportional to the population of each state
Prussia erased as a state and Länder given more powers than before to look after the people in their state
If federal taxes affected the Länder, the Bundesrat had to agree with them
Länder had control over education and administration in their state
