Workbook: Political and Gov change

Question 1

What was the Weimar republic?

Answer 1

The name given to Germany between 1919-1933. Refers to a period of democracy in Germany

Question 2

What powers did the President of the Weimar Republic have?

Answer 2

• To select and dismiss a chancellor
• To lead the armed forces
• Dissolve the Reichstag and call new elections
• To rule via presidential decree in the event of emergency (Article 48)

Question 3

Describe the system that was used to conduct elections in Germany

Answer 3

Proportional representation - seats allocated in parliament which corresponded closely to the way in which people vote i.e. if 10% of voters vote for a party, then that party receives 10% of seats

Question 4

Which rights did the Weimar constitution protect?

Answer 4

• Freedom of association, speech and religion
• The right to work: the gov had to ensure everyone had a job or, failing that, provide financial support
• Right to own property

Question 5

Which traditional institutions in Weimar Germany remained unreformed, powerful conservative forces?

Answer 5

• Civil service
• Army
• Universities (sympathetic to old political ideas)
• judiciary (tended to favour extreme right and condemn extreme left in the courts

Question 6

Name 3 positive features of the Weimar Republic consitution

Answer 6

• Very democratic with elected head of state (President) and a parliament elected by proportional representation
• Contained checks and balances to try and make sure no one part of the political system could become too powerful
• It protected many basic civil rights (e.g. freedom of speech/religion)

Question 7

Name 2 criticisms of the Weimar Republic

Answer 7

• It gave away too much power to the president (Article 48) allowing him to suspend civil rights in an emergency
• Proportional representation led to a fragmented party system with lots of small splinter parties (Nazis) and making it difficult to form stable coalition governments