Weimar Constitution

Question 1

Define constitution.

Answer 1

A set of principles which govern a state.

Question 2

Define electoral system.

Answer 2

A method of voting system where people vote for an option (elections).

Question 3

What were some left-wing policies?

Answer 3

.Collective farms.
.High taxation to help ppl.
.Government control economic markets to keep them fair.
. Nationalise homes, industry, transport, agriculture.
.State institutions.
.Free education for all.
.Universal healthcare.
.Homeless/criminals are victims of society.
.Group important.

Question 4

What were some right-wing policies?

Answer 4

.Buy superior education.
.Criminal/homeless by choice.
.Low tax/ increased enterprise.
.Individual important.
.Laissez-faire.
.Skilled/educated rise.
.Private ownership.
.Free economic markets - make the most.
.Private/individual farms.
.Social class/superior gorups/nationalities.

Question 5

What were some centre policies?

Answer 5

.No choice of parties/government.
.Some industries nationalised.
.Healthcare for all by group.
For each ability, their needs.
.Ban/force religion.
Choose religion.
.Rehab in prison even though its a deterrent.

Question 6

What were the 7 political parties?

Answer 6

.KPD.
.SPD (majority).
.DDP.
.ZP(centre).
.DVP.
.DNVP(extremist).
.NSDAP(not until 1920)

Question 7

What did the extremist left want?

Answer 7

.People’s control.
.End capitalism.
.End private ownership.
.Cooperate with foreign nations.

Question 8

What did the extreme right want?

Answer 8

.Strong government and army.
.Powerful monarch/leader.
.Capitalism.
.Traditional family values.
.Law and order.

Question 9

What did Freidrich Ebert want?

Answer 9

.Evolutionary change through elections.
.Chosen by Prince Max but got power through revolutionary act.
.Wanted a new constitution quickly.
.11th November - want elections for Constituent Assembly.

Question 10

What leads up to constituent assembly?

Answer 10

.Social discontent about armistice.
.Ludendoff calls for a constitutional monarchy.
.Kaiser abdicates.
.Coalition in left-wing made.
.Conflict of ideas in left-wing.
.Democracy prevails in election.
.31st July 1919 - Weimar Republic formed.

Question 11

What happened at the Constituent Assembly elections?

Answer 11

.19th January 1919 - SPD biggest share but not overall majority.
.Met in Weimar and Ebert elected.
.Scheidemann led government - coalition of SPD, ZP AND DDP.
.Soviets handed to CA.
.Proportional Representation.

Question 12

How were the President, Chancellor and Reichstag chosen?

Answer 12

. 7 years, could dismiss chancellor and reichstag, control army and override constitutional rights.
.Reichstag’s confidence, proposed laws to them.
.All germans over 20 every 4 years by PR, chose laws.

Question 13

Read Germans rights in booklet.

Question 14

What were the constitution’s strengths?

Answer 14

.Elections 7 years,
.PR.
.67 ppl in Reichstag from 17 states.
.Civil service guaranteed rights and freedoms.
.Reichstag elections.
.Chancellor needed Reichstag’s support.
.Full democracy - no domination.
.Supreme court independent.
.Rights clearly set out.
.Vote on budget and new laws from Reichstag
.Referendums called by anyone.
.Reichsrat represented by population proportion.
.Article 54.

Question 15

What were some weaknesses?

Answer 15

.Article 48.
.Army/Hans von Seeckt unsupportive.
.State retained power in state.
.Many people wanted aristocracy.
.Army, judiciary and civil service not reformed.
.Reichstag override the Reichsrat.
.Coalitions weak/exploitation from anti-republicans.
.Chancellor/ministers responsible to Reichstag.
.President control Reichstag and government.
.Fragmented party system from deep divisions.
.Judges anti-democratic.