Omar Bennett
The Weimar Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the German Reich, was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era from 1919 to 1933. The constitution created a federal semi-presidential parliamentary republic with a parliament whose lower house, the Reichstag, was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. The deputies of the Reichstag were chosen through a system of proportional representation, meaning that parties received seats in proportion to their total votes. The President of the Reich, directly elected by the people, was a counterweight to the Reichstag and was vested with extensive powers by the Weimar Constitution.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Legislative body | The Reichstag |
| Election term | 4 years |
| Voting eligibility | All German citizens aged 20 or more |
| Voting method | Secret ballot |
| Deputy election method | Proportional representation |
| Executive body | Chancellor |
| Chancellor election method | Appointed by the President of the Reich |
| President election method | Elected by the people |
| President term | 7 years |
| President powers | Extensive, including the right to dissolve the Reichstag, declare a state of emergency, and enact emergency decrees |
| Civic rights | Freedom of speech, habeas corpus, freedom of religion, and more |
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What You'll Learn
Universal suffrage
The Reichstag was the central legislative body under the Weimar Constitution, with functions including legislation, approval of the budget, and scrutiny of the Reich Government. Deputies of the Reichstag were chosen using a system of proportional representation, meaning that parties received seats in proportion to their total votes.
The Weimar Constitution also provided for a directly elected president, who served as a counterweight to the Reichstag and was vested with extensive powers. The president was to be elected independently of the Reichstag by popular vote, and was eligible for reelection after serving a seven-year term. The Weimar Constitution thus established a system of universal suffrage, with both the president and the Reichstag being directly elected by the people.
The introduction of universal suffrage in Germany was a significant step towards democracy, marking a break from the previous era of rigid monarchic and aristocratic rule. However, it also faced criticism for the system of proportional representation it introduced, which some argued contributed to the instability of the Weimar Republic.
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Proportional representation
The Weimar Constitution, which was signed in 1919, created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament, the lower house of which was the Reichstag. The deputies of the Reichstag were elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. This meant that parties received seats in proportion to their total votes. All German citizens over the age of 20 were permitted to vote in Reichstag elections, regardless of status, property, or gender.
The Reichstag was the central legislative body under the Constitution of the Weimar Republic. It was elected for a four-year term, although elections could be called sooner if the need arose. Its main functions were legislation, including the approval of the budget, and scrutiny of the Reich Government.
The upper house of the parliament was the Reichsrat, which was appointed and represented the interests of the federal states.
The President of the Reich was directly elected by the people and served a seven-year term. The Weimar Constitution vested the President with extensive powers so that he would serve as a counterweight to the Reichstag. The President had the right to dissolve the Reichstag and the authority to declare a state of emergency and enact emergency decrees, which had the status of laws.
The introduction of proportional representation in the Weimar Constitution has been criticised, as it is argued to have contributed to the rise of Hitler and the Nazis. However, others argue that this was more due to the course of events and the character of social forces in Germany at the time, rather than constitutional defects.
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Federal semi-presidential republic
The Constitution of the German Reich, commonly known as the Weimar Constitution, established a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament. This parliament was made up of a lower house, the Reichstag, and an upper house, the Reichsrat. The deputies of the Reichstag were elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. This meant that parties received seats in proportion to their total votes. All German citizens over the age of 20 were permitted to vote in Reichstag elections, regardless of status, property, or gender.
The Reichstag was the central legislative body under the Weimar Constitution. Its main functions included legislation, approving the budget, and scrutinising the Reich Government. The Chancellor, who was not elected by Parliament but appointed by the President, depended on the confidence of the Reichstag to hold office. The President, on the other hand, was directly elected by the people and served a seven-year term. While the President was intended to be a counterweight to the Reichstag, the Weimar Constitution vested extensive powers in the office, including the right to dissolve the Reichstag and declare a state of emergency in the event of public safety being endangered.
The Weimar Republic, which lasted from 1919 to 1933, was a period of political turmoil, violence, and economic hardship, but also of new social freedoms and artistic expression. The drafting of the Weimar Constitution was influenced by the Frankfurt Constitution of 1849 and Robert Redslob's theory of parliamentarianism, which called for a balance between the executive and legislative branches. Despite its democratic ideals, the Weimar Constitution faced legitimacy issues in the eyes of the German people, and its weaknesses ultimately failed to prevent the rise of Hitler and the establishment of a dictatorship.
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President's role and powers
The President of the Reich was directly elected by the people and served a seven-year term. The President was head of state and was not part of the Reichstag. The President was to be elected independently of the Reichstag by the nation itself and was eligible for re-election.
The President was to make alliances and treaties, and he was the supreme commander of the armed forces, with the right to appoint and remove all officers. The President could dissolve the Reichstag and submit any law enacted by it to a referendum. The President had the right to appoint and remove the chancellor, who was responsible to the Reichstag.
Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution granted the President considerable powers in the event of an 'emergency'. The President could rule by decree, override the Reichstag, suspend civil rights, deploy the military, and take any measures required to restore public safety and order. The President could also use armed force to compel a state to fulfil its obligations under the constitution or Reich law.
The Weimar Constitution has been criticised for the large powers it conferred on the President. However, these powers were intended to provide a counterweight to the Reichstag and reflected the insecurity bordering on civil war that Germany faced at the time.
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Deputies' eligibility
The Weimar Constitution, also known as the Constitution of the German Reich, created a federal semi-presidential parliamentary republic with a parliament whose lower house was the Reichstag. The deputies of the Reichstag were elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. This meant that all German citizens aged 20 or above were permitted to vote in Reichstag elections, regardless of status, property, or gender.
The Reichstag was elected for a four-year term and was the central legislative body under the Weimar Constitution. Its main functions included legislation, approval of the budget, and scrutiny of the Reich Government. The deputies of the Reichstag were chosen using a system of proportional representation, meaning that parties received seats in proportion to their total votes.
The Weimar Constitution also introduced significant increases in women's rights, as it extended the right to vote to all men and women over the age of 20 in 1919, making it more progressive than the United States and Britain at the time. This was the first German election in which women had voting rights, marking a significant step forward in terms of gender equality.
The upper house of the parliament, known as the Reichsrat, was appointed to represent the interests of the federal states. The president of Germany had supreme command over the military, extensive emergency powers, and the authority to appoint and remove the chancellor, who was responsible to the Reichstag.
The Weimar Constitution provided a firm foundation for democratic development in Germany, introducing proportional representation and guaranteeing a number of civic rights, such as freedom of speech and habeas corpus. It also guaranteed freedom of religion and did not permit the establishment of a state church.
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Frequently asked questions
Deputies were elected using a system of proportional representation, meaning that parties received seats in proportion to their total votes.
All German citizens aged 20 or above were permitted to vote in the elections, regardless of status, property, or gender.
The Reichstag was elected every four years, or sooner if required.
The Chancellor was appointed by the President of the Reich and was responsible for leading the government.
The President had extensive powers, including the right to dissolve the Reichstag, appoint and remove the Chancellor, and declare a state of emergency.
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