Simone Lawson
The Weimar Constitution was the set of laws that governed Germany from 1919 to 1933, following the collapse of the Second Reich and the end of World War I. The constitution was drafted by the victorious parties of the German revolution, led by Friedrich Ebert of the Social Democrats (SPD), who advocated for a parliamentary republic. The constitution aimed to establish a democratic government in Germany, with provisions for a popularly elected president, freedom of speech and religion, and equal rights for all citizens over the age of 20 to vote and elect the president and the Reichstag (Parliament). The Weimar Constitution also included emergency decree powers for the president, outlined in Article 48, which could be used to protect the republic from perceived threats but ultimately contributed to the rise of Nazi Germany.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Purpose | To establish a democratic government in Germany after the collapse of the Second Reich |
| Election date | 19 January 1919 |
| Voting system | Proportional representation |
| Voter eligibility | All adults over the age of 20 |
| Number of articles | 181 |
| Notable articles | Article 48, which gave the president emergency powers to rule by decree and suspend civil liberties |
| Number of states | 18 |
| Government structure | Federal system with two parliamentary houses: the Reichstag (lower house) and the Reichsrat (upper house) |
| Presidential powers | Supreme command over the military, appointment and removal of the chancellor and cabinet members, foreign policy, treaty-making, dissolving the Reichstag, and initiating referendums |
| Presidential term | 7 years |
| Chancellor | Leader of the Reichstag, responsible for determining the political guidelines of the government |
| No-confidence vote | Required the chancellor and ministers to resign; did not require a positive majority for a prospective successor |
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What You'll Learn
To establish a democratic government
The Weimar Constitution was established to form the basis of the new democratic government in Germany, known as the Weimar Republic, following the collapse of the Second Reich after World War I. The constitution was drafted by the victorious parties of the German revolution of 1918-1919, which included Friedrich Ebert of the Social Democrats (SPD).
The Weimar Republic was a federal system, comprising eighteen different states called Länder, each with its own local government. The constitution provided for a popularly elected president, who was to hold office for seven years and was eligible for re-election. The president was the chief executive and was endowed with strong powers, including supreme command over the military, the right to appoint and remove the chancellor and cabinet members, and the power to dissolve the Reichstag. The chancellor, in turn, determined the political guidelines of the government and was responsible to the Reichstag, which was the lower house of the new Weimar Republic's parliament.
The Weimar Constitution introduced a voting system of proportional representation, where citizens voted for a party rather than a candidate. This resulted in the election of many small parties, and the country was often run by coalitions. The constitution also provided for popular referendum and initiative, allowing the electorate to introduce bills into the Reichstag and force a vote on them. German citizens were guaranteed freedom of speech and religion, and all citizens were considered equal.
The constitution was promulgated on August 11, 1919, and it was hailed as the most modern democratic constitution of its day. However, it had major flaws that contributed to its downfall. The reliance on coalitions, for example, led to disagreements between parties and a lack of decisive action. Additionally, Article 48 of the constitution gave the president the power to rule by decree and suspend civil liberties in the event of an emergency, which was open to interpretation and misuse, ultimately facilitating the rise of a dictatorship.
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To unite the German people
The Weimar Constitution was the result of the German Revolution of 1918–1919, which saw the collapse of the Second Reich and the end of the monarchy. The revolution culminated in the abdication of Emperor William II on November 9, 1918, and the proclamation of a republic by Social Democrat Philipp Scheidemann. The first elections for the new Weimar Republic were held on January 19, 1919, with women gaining equal voting rights with men for the first time in German history.
The Social Democratic Party (SDP), led by Friedrich Ebert, emerged as the largest party with 38% of the vote and 163 seats. However, they fell short of a majority and were forced to form a coalition with the Catholic Centre Party and the Democratic Party. This coalition government was tasked with drafting a new constitution for the Weimar Republic, a federal system made up of eighteen states called Länder, each with its own local government.
The constitution-drafting process took place in the town of Weimar, a location chosen due to the ongoing instability in Berlin. The delegates, led by Ebert, wanted to remind the victorious Allies of Weimar Classicism, which included writers such as Goethe and Schiller, during their deliberations on the terms of the Versailles Treaty. The resulting Weimar Constitution, signed on August 11, 1919, was hailed as one of the most modern democratic constitutions of its time.
One of the key purposes of the Weimar Constitution was to unite the German people and establish a representative democracy that served all German citizens. The constitution guaranteed equal rights for all German citizens, including freedom of speech and religion. It also introduced universal suffrage, lowering the voting age to twenty, and provided for a popularly elected president. The president was given substantial powers, including command over the military, the right to appoint and remove the chancellor and cabinet members, and the ability to dissolve the Reichstag (the lower house of parliament).
The Weimar Constitution also introduced the concept of proportional representation, where citizens voted for a party rather than an individual candidate. This resulted in the election of many small parties, leading to a fragmented political landscape and a reliance on coalitions to form governments. While this system aimed to give genuine power to all German adults, it also contributed to parliamentary instability and made governing more challenging.
In conclusion, the Weimar Constitution played a pivotal role in uniting the German people by establishing a democratic framework that guaranteed equal rights, empowered citizens through universal suffrage, and created a system of representative democracy. However, the challenges posed by a multi-party system and the concentration of power in the presidency also contributed to the eventual downfall of the Weimar Republic.
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To guarantee freedom of speech and religion
The Weimar Constitution was drafted in 1919, following the collapse of the Second Reich and the German revolution of 1918–1919. It was designed to guarantee freedom of speech and religion for all German citizens, who were also guaranteed equality.
The constitution was hailed as the most modern democratic constitution of its day. It provided for a popularly elected president, who was to be elected independently of the Reichstag by the nation itself, and held office for seven years. The president had supreme command over the military, and appointed and removed the chancellor, who led the Reichstag. The chancellor, in turn, determined the political guidelines of their government and was responsible to the Reichstag.
The Weimar Republic was a federal system, split into eighteen different states called Länder, each of which had its own local government. The Länder could send representatives from their local government to the Reichsrat, the upper house of the new Weimar Republic’s parliament.
The Reichstag was the body responsible for making laws and appointing the government. It was elected through a system of proportional representation, in which German citizens voted for a party rather than a candidate. This resulted in the election of many small parties, and the country was run by coalitions.
The Weimar Constitution's most modern features, the provisions for popular referendum and initiative, were designed to enable the electorate, by way of petition, to introduce bills into the Reichstag and to force the body to vote on them. If a bill was voted down, a national referendum could be held to allow the electorate to pass the bill into law against the wishes of the Reichstag. Through these provisions, it was thought that the government would never be allowed to ignore the wishes of the voters.
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To ensure equal rights for all citizens
The Weimar Constitution was drafted in 1919 to establish a democratic government in Germany, following the collapse of the Second Reich and the end of World War I. The constitution aimed to ensure equal rights for all citizens, guaranteeing freedom of speech and religion, and introducing universal suffrage for all adults over the age of 20. This meant that, for the first time, women had equal voting rights with men.
The Weimar Republic, as the new system was called, was a federal system comprising eighteen states called Länder, each with its own local government. The Länder could send representatives to the Reichsrat, the upper house of the parliament. The Reichstag, the lower house, was responsible for making laws and appointing the government and chancellor. The chancellor, in turn, determined the political guidelines of their government and was responsible to the Reichstag.
The Weimar Constitution also provided for a popularly elected president, who held office for seven years and could be re-elected. The president had supreme command over the military and the right to appoint and remove its officers. They were also responsible for making alliances and treaties. In the event of a serious threat to public safety or security, Article 48 of the constitution gave the president the power to suspend civil rights and use armed force to restore law and order.
The Weimar Constitution's provisions for popular referendum and initiative were designed to empower the electorate and ensure that the government could not ignore the wishes of the voters. German citizens could introduce bills into the Reichstag by petition and, if the bill was voted down, a national referendum could be held to pass it into law.
Overall, the Weimar Constitution aimed to establish a democratic government in Germany that guaranteed equal rights and freedoms for all citizens, and provided a framework for a representative democracy that looked after the interests of all Germans.
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To outline the role of the president and the Reichstag
The Weimar Constitution established three central political forces: the Reichstag, the chancellor, and the president.
The Reichstag
The Reichstag was the central legislative body under the Constitution of the Weimar Republic. It was the lower house of the Weimar Republic's parliament, and its main functions were legislation, including approval of the budget, and scrutiny of the Reich Government. The Reichstag was elected for a four-year term and organised its work through a system of permanent committees.
The Chancellor
The chancellor was responsible for the day-to-day operations of the government, particularly in the executive branch. The chancellor was appointed by the president and depended on the confidence of the Reichstag to remain in office. The chancellor was expected to be elected from the ranks of the majority party or coalition in the Reichstag.
The President
The president held overall ceremonial and real political power. Directly elected by popular vote, the president could dismiss the chancellor and controlled the military. The president also had the power to dissolve the Reichstag and call for new elections. In the case of a tie in the government (cabinet), the president's vote was decisive.
Article 48
Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution gave the president the authority to rule by decree in the event of a serious threat to public safety or security. This included the power to use armed force and suspend civil rights. The president could declare a state of emergency and enact emergency decrees with the status of laws. However, the president was required to inform the Reichstag of such measures, and the Reichstag could nullify the decree.
Limitations
The Weimar Republic was a federal system comprising eighteen states called Länder, each with its own local government. The Länder could send representatives to the Reichsrat, the upper house of the Weimar Republic's parliament. The president's power was limited by the Reichstag, and the two houses together served as a check on the powers of the president and the legislature.
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Frequently asked questions
The Weimar Constitution was a new constitution drafted for the Weimar Republic, the new system of democratic government established in Germany following World War I and the collapse of the Second Reich.
The Weimar Constitution provided for a popularly elected president, who held office for seven years and could be re-elected. The president had considerable power over foreign policy and the armed forces, and could appoint and remove the chancellor and cabinet members. The chancellor was responsible to the Reichstag, the lower house of the new Weimar Republic's parliament, and determined the political guidelines of the government. The Weimar Constitution also provided for popular referendum and initiative, allowing the electorate to introduce bills into the Reichstag and force a vote.
The Weimar Constitution had serious consequences for the Weimar Government. The Republic was meant to be a representative democracy that looked after the interests of all Germans, but many Germans did not like the idea of democracy. The survival of the Weimar Government relied on small parties cooperating with each other, which led to disagreements and a lack of decisive action. Additionally, the Weimar Constitution's Article 48, which gave the president authority to rule by decree in a state of emergency, was repeatedly misused and eventually facilitated the establishment of a dictatorship under Hitler.
