The weimar republic Flashcards
What event did the Council of People’s Representatives organise in January 1919?
Elections to create a new parliament.
This marked the transition to democracy in Germany.
Who became the first President of Germany after the establishment of the Weimar Republic?
Friedrich Ebert
Ebert was the leader of the SPD, a moderate socialist party.
What was the significant political body created in February 1919?
The Reichstag
The Reichstag was the new German parliament where the Weimar Constitution was drafted.
What is the term for the system where the proportion of seats in parliament reflects the proportion of votes received?
Proportional representation
This system aimed to create a fair representation of parties in the Reichstag.
How often is the President of Germany elected according to the Weimar Constitution?
Every 7 years
What powers did the President have in the Weimar Republic?
- Head of the army
- Chooses the Chancellor
- Can dissolve the Reichstag
- Can call new elections
- can suspend the constitution
What was the role of the Reichsrat in the Weimar Republic?
A less powerful house of parliament
That could delay measures passed by the Reichstag.
What significant change did the Weimar Constitution introduce regarding voting?
Allowed women to vote for the first time and lowered the voting age to 20
This increased public participation.
What was a major weakness of the Weimar Constitution related to decision-making?
Proportional representation, which led to too many parties in the Reichstag, making decisions difficult
this hindered effective governance.
What was ‘Article 48’ in the Weimar Constitution?
A provision allowing the President to suspend the constitution and pass laws without the Reichstag’s consent in emergencies
True or False: The Weimar Constitution proved to be very efficient in decision-making.
False
The constitution’s design led to inefficiencies and difficulties in governance.
