The Weimar constitution Flashcards
How was the new democratic government established
In the drawing up of a new constitution
Where was the Weimar constitution made
On 31 July 1919 in the town of Weimar rather than Berlin where there was still unrest
Who was the head of the state
President
Roles of the president
Head of the Weimar Republic
elected by the people every seven years
could choose the Chancellor
could dissolve Reichstag, call new elections and suspend the constitution
What made up the government
The Chancellor and the cabinet
What was the chancellor
Head of the government and the Weimar Republic
in charge of a day-to-day running of the government
choose all the government ministers
What was the cabinet
The main decision-making body of the government
What two house is made up the parliament
The reichstag and the reichsrat
How was the parliament organised
Proportional representation
Parties gain seats in proportion to the number of votes cast for them
What was the reichstag
The more powerful of the two houses
Controlled taxation
Directly elected by the people at least once every four years
What was the reichsrat
Also elected every four years however it represented the regions of Germany
Each region set a certain number of representatives depending on its size
Who were the electorate (the people who could vote)
Anyone over the age of 20
Strength of the Weimar constitution
Proportional representation make sure small parties had a fair share of seats
Women were able to vote as well as men
Voting age was reduced from 25 to 21
No one group or person could have too much power
An election for president every seven years
The central government was more powerful than before (but local government still retain power in the regions)
The reichsrat could regulate the power of the reichstag by delaying new laws
Weaknesses of the Weimar constitution
Proportional representation led to coalition governments due to many different parties making up the reichstag so it was unstable and found it difficult to have strong policies
Lack of a strong government led to weakness in a crisis that resulted with the president passing laws without the prior consent of the Reichstag (article 48 of the constitution enabled the president to do this)
It was not the choice of the people so was not that popular
What was article 48 of the constitution
Allow the president to pass laws without any prior consent of the Reichstag
