Weimar Constitution

Question 1

What was Article 48?

Answer 1

-It was a law that stated that in an emergency the President can make laws without consulting the Reichstag.

Question 2

What was the President?

Answer 2

• The Head of State.
• Elected every 5 years by the German people.
• Appoints the Chancellor.
• Has control of Army.
• Can dismiss Parliament.

Question 3

What was the Chancellor?

Answer 3

• Head of Government.
• Appointed from the Reichstag by the President.
• Had to be supported by a majority of the Reichstag.

Question 4

What was the Reichstag?

Answer 4

• Members voted by proportional representation.

- Makes the laws.

Question 5

What was proportional representation?

Answer 5

-Proportional Representation meant parties got the same proportion of seats as their proportion of votes.

Question 6

How did the German people contribute to the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 6

-All adults over the agent 20 can vote and all have equal rights, freedom of speech, assembly and religious worship.

Question 7

What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 7

• Proportional Representation meant that all political parties got a say in government.
• All Germans had equal rights, including the right to vote.
• Article 48 was necessary because it made the President strong and able to keep control of the country and protect it with the army in a crisis.

Question 8

What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?

Answer 8

• Proportional Representation encouraged lots of small parties, which meant no one party had a majority. Parties had to group together in coalitions. There were 9 different coalitions in the first four years. Coalitions would frequently fall out and disagree in times of crisis. Proportional Representation also meant extreme parties on the Right and Left could also get seats in the Government.
• In 1919, the Republic had many enemies. It was not sensible to give equal rights to those who wishes to destroy it.
• The president had too much power. He could turn himself into a dictator.
• Germany had little experience of Democracy before. Many preferred the strong system of government under the Kaiser and felt the army and upper class were the rightful rulers.