Malcolm Rivera
The Weimar Constitution, formally known as the Constitution of the German Reich, was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era. The assembly that adopted the constitution met in the town of Weimar in central Germany from February 6 to August 11, 1919, and the constitution was formally promulgated on the last day of their meeting. The constitution created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament and guaranteed a wide range of civic rights.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Name of the town where the constitutional assembly met | Weimar |
| Dates of the constitutional assembly | 6 February – 11 August 1919 |
| Elected president of the Reich | Friedrich Ebert |
| Constitution formally promulgated | 11 August 1919 |
| Constitution's title | Constitution of the German Empire |
| Constitution's civic rights | Freedom of speech, right to vote, habeas corpus, freedom of religion |
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What You'll Learn
The assembly that adopted the constitution met in Weimar
The name "Weimar Constitution" comes from the town of Weimar in central Germany, where the constitutional assembly met from February 6 to August 11, 1919. The assembly that adopted the constitution met in Weimar due to the unsettled conditions in Berlin at the time. The delegates of the assembly met to draft a new constitution for Germany, which was promulgated on August 11, 1919. The Weimar Constitution was a significant document that created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament and guaranteed various civic rights and freedoms.
The Weimar Constitution was drafted by the national assembly, which met in Weimar, a town in central Germany. The assembly was tasked with providing a new constitution for Germany following the end of World War I and the collapse of the German government. The conditions in Berlin were still unsettled, with political turmoil, violence, and economic hardship, so the delegates met in Weimar instead.
The assembly that adopted the Weimar Constitution included representatives from various political parties, such as the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and the German Democratic Party (DDP). The SPD, led by Friedrich Ebert, had advocated for a constitutional monarchy, while the Independent Socialists in Bavaria had proclaimed a socialist republic. Despite these differing ideologies, the assembly worked together to create a constitution that established a federal semi-presidential republic.
The Weimar Constitution provided for a popularly elected president with extensive powers, including control over foreign policy and the military. It also established a parliament, known as the Reichstag, which was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. The Reichstag appointed the government and made all laws, and it had the power to scrutinize the Reich Government. The Weimar Constitution guaranteed various civic rights and freedoms, such as freedom of speech, religion, and equality under the law.
The assembly that adopted the Weimar Constitution played a crucial role in shaping the political system of Germany during the Weimar Republic era. The constitution they created established a federal semi-presidential republic, with a balance of powers between the president and the parliament. The assembly's work laid the foundation for a more democratic and representative government in Germany, attempting to give genuine power to all German adults. However, the Weimar Republic also faced significant challenges, including economic hardships and political instability, which ultimately contributed to its downfall in 1933.
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The constitution was promulgated on 11 August 1919
The Weimar Constitution was formally promulgated on 11 August 1919, marking the end of the provisional German government that had been in place since the previous November. The constitution was drafted by Hugo Preuss of the Democratic Party and created a federal semi-presidential republic. It provided for a popularly elected president with considerable powers, including the right to dissolve the Reichstag, declare a state of emergency, and enact emergency decrees. The president also had supreme command over the military and appointed and removed the chancellor, who was responsible to the Reichstag.
The Weimar Constitution extended voting rights to all men and women over the age of 20, with women gaining the right to vote for the first time in the election of 19 January 1919. The constitution also established a bicameral parliament, with a lower house, the Reichstag, and an upper house, the Reichsrat. The Reichstag was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation, meaning each party gained the same percentage of seats in parliament as the percentage of votes it received in an election.
The Weimar Constitution included a significant number of civic rights, such as freedom of speech, habeas corpus, and freedom of religion. It also guaranteed freedom from a state church. However, the constitution had certain weaknesses, such as Article 48, which gave the president broad emergency powers that could be used to subvert the democratic process.
The name "Weimar Constitution" comes from the town of Weimar in central Germany, where the constitutional assembly met from 6 February to 11 August 1919. The Weimar Republic, the government of Germany from 1919 to 1933, also derived its name from this town.
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The constitution created a federal semi-presidential republic
The name "Weimar Constitution" comes from the town of Weimar in central Germany, where the constitutional assembly met from February 6 to August 11, 1919. The constitution created a federal semi-presidential republic, with a parliament whose lower house, the Reichstag, was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. The Reichstag was responsible for making laws and appointing the government. Each party in parliament received a percentage of seats proportional to the percentage of votes it received in an election, leading to a large number of small parties and weak governments.
The upper house, the Reichsrat, was appointed to represent the interests of the federal states. The president, elected independently of the Reichstag by the nation itself, served as a counterweight to the powerful legislature. The president was endowed with extensive powers, including the right to dissolve the Reichstag, make alliances and treaties, and serve as the supreme commander of the armed forces. The president also had the authority to declare a state of emergency and enact emergency decrees with the status of laws. The Weimar Constitution also extended voting rights to women and lowered the voting age to 20.
The Weimar Constitution was hailed as the most modern democratic constitution of its day. However, it also contained weaknesses that would later be exploited by Hitler to subvert the democratic system and assume dictatorial power. For example, Article 48 gave the president broad emergency powers that could be used to suspend civil liberties and bypass parliament, which contributed to the instability of the Weimar Republic and its eventual collapse.
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The president was given extensive powers
The name "Weimar Constitution" comes from the town of Weimar in central Germany, where the constitutional assembly met from February 6 to August 11, 1919. The constitution was formally promulgated on August 11, 1919, marking the end of the provisional German government that had been in place since the previous November.
The president of Germany was given extensive powers by the Weimar Constitution to serve as a counterweight to the Reichstag. The president was directly elected by the people and held office for seven years, with the possibility of re-election. One of the president's key powers was the ability to dissolve the Reichstag and submit any laws enacted by it to a referendum. The president was also the supreme commander of the armed forces, with the right to appoint and remove military officers.
The Weimar Constitution also granted the president significant powers in foreign policy and emergency situations. Under Article 48, the president could enact emergency decrees to protect the republic from crises initiated by its opponents on either the left or the right. This included the power to suspend civil liberties guaranteed by the constitution and take any measures necessary to restore public safety and order.
The president's extensive powers reflected the insecurity and political turmoil of the time, which bordered on civil war. However, the lack of a clear definition of what constituted an 'emergency' under Article 48 led to the overuse of this provision. This, in turn, weakened Germans' confidence in democracy and contributed to the rise of Hitler and the end of the Weimar Republic.
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The constitution was hailed as modern and democratic
The Weimar Constitution was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era. The name "Weimar Constitution" comes from the town of Weimar in central Germany, where the constitutional assembly met from February 6 to August 11, 1919. The constitution was formally promulgated on August 11, 1919, marking the end of the provisional government that had been in place since the previous November.
The Weimar Constitution was hailed as the most modern and democratic constitution of its day. It provided for a popularly elected president with considerable powers, including the right to dissolve the Reichstag and declare a state of emergency in the event of public safety concerns. The president also had the power to enact emergency decrees and take any necessary measures to restore public safety and order. These provisions reflected the insecurity and civil war-like conditions Germany faced at the time.
The Weimar Constitution also introduced universal suffrage and proportional representation, which meant that each party in parliament received the same percentage of seats as the percentage of votes it received in an election. This resulted in a large number of small parties in parliament, which made it difficult to pass laws and led to weak and short-lived governments. The constitution also guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, as well as equality under the law for all German citizens.
The Weimar Constitution extended the right to vote to women over the age of 20 in 1919, which was a significant advancement for women's rights. It also lowered the voting age from 25 to 20, further expanding political participation. The constitution's modern and democratic nature was reflected in its inclusion of a significant number of civic rights and freedoms for German citizens.
However, despite its democratic ideals, the Weimar Constitution had flaws that contributed to its downfall. Article 48, for example, gave the president broad powers to act without parliamentary approval in an emergency, but the lack of a clear definition of "emergency" led to the overuse of this provision, undermining Germans' confidence in democracy. Additionally, the weakness of the Weimar Republic and the constitution's inability to address the economic hardships faced by the German people set the stage for Hitler's rise to power and the eventual subversion of the constitution.
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Frequently asked questions
The Weimar Constitution was named after the town of Weimar in central Germany, where the assembly that adopted its constitution met from February 6 to August 11, 1919.
The Weimar Constitution was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era. It created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament whose lower house, the Reichstag, was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation.
The Weimar Constitution provided for a popularly elected president who was given considerable power over foreign policy and the armed forces. The president could also dissolve the Reichstag and submit any law enacted by it to a referendum. The constitution included a significant number of civic rights such as freedom of speech, habeas corpus, and freedom of religion.
The Weimar Constitution was promulgated formally on August 11, 1919, ending the provisional status of the German government that had begun with the proclamation of a republic in November 1918. This followed the abdication of Emperor William II and the end of the German Empire. The Weimar Republic lasted from 1919 to 1933 and was characterized by political turmoil, economic hardship, and new social freedoms.
