Omar Bennett
The Weimar Constitution, formally promulgated on August 11, 1919, was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era. The constitution was drafted by the assembly that met in Weimar from February 6 to August 11, 1919, and it replaced the previous system of constitutional monarchy with a federal semi-presidential republic. The new constitution introduced a system of proportional representation and granted significant powers to the president, including the ability to rule by decree in a state of emergency.
| Characteristics | Values |
|---|---|
| Date of promulgation | 11 August 1919 |
| Duration | 1919-1933 |
| Type of government | Federal semi-presidential republic |
| Voting system | Proportional representation |
| Voting age | 20 |
| Number of states | 18 |
| Number of articles | 181 |
| Number of chapters | 2 |
| Powers of the president | Supreme command over the military, extensive emergency powers, authority to dissolve the Reichstag, right to appoint and remove the chancellor |
| Powers of the chancellor | Determines the political guidelines of the government, appoints cabinet members |
Explore related products
What You'll Learn
- The Weimar Constitution was formally promulgated on August 11, 1919
- The constitution was drafted by Hugo Preuss of the Democratic Party
- The Weimar Republic was a federal semi-presidential republic
- The president had supreme command over the military and could declare a state of emergency
- The chancellor was appointed by the president and was responsible to the Reichstag
The Weimar Constitution was formally promulgated on August 11, 1919
The Weimar Constitution, formally promulgated on August 11, 1919, was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era. The constitution was drafted by Hugo Preuss of the Democratic Party and created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament. The Weimar Republic was so called because the assembly that adopted its constitution met at Weimar from February 6 to August 11, 1919. The first elections for the new republic were held on January 19, 1919, using a voting system called proportional representation. The Social Democratic Party won 38% of the vote and 163 seats, the Catholic Centre Party won 20% of the vote and 91 seats, and the Democratic Party won 19% of the vote and 75 seats. The rest of the seats were divided between smaller parties.
The Weimar Constitution was divided into two main parts or chapters, which were further divided into seven and five sections, respectively. In total, there were 181 articles in the constitution. The first part of the constitution specified the organisation of the various parts of the federal government. Section 1, consisting of Articles 1 to 19, established the German Reich as a republic whose power derived from the people. The Reich was defined as the region encompassed by the German states, with the possibility of incorporating other regions based on popular self-determination. The Weimar Constitution provided for a popularly elected president, who was given considerable power over foreign policy and the armed forces. The president had the supreme command over the military and appointed and removed the chancellor, who was responsible to the Reichstag. The chancellor determined the political guidelines of his government, and in the event of a vote of no confidence, both the chancellor and ministers were compelled to resign.
The Reichstag, elected for a four-year term, 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 upper house, the Reichsrat, was appointed to represent the interests of the federal states, while the lower house, the Reichstag, was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. The Weimar Constitution included a significant number of civic rights, such as freedom of speech, habeas corpus, and freedom of religion. It also introduced the right to vote for women and lowered the voting age from 25 to 20.
Mexico's Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
The constitution was drafted by Hugo Preuss of the Democratic Party
The Weimar Republic was the German government from 1919 to 1933. It was a new system of democratic government established in Germany following the collapse of the Second Reich. The first elections for the new republic were held on the 19th of January 1919, with the Social Democratic Party winning 38% of the vote and 163 seats, the Catholic Centre Party winning 20% of the vote and 91 seats, and the Democratic Party winning 19% of the vote and 75 seats. The rest of the seats were divided between smaller parties.
The Weimar Constitution was formally promulgated on the 11th of August 1919, marking the end of the provisional government in Germany that had begun with Scheidemann's proclamation of a republic in November 1918. The constitution was drafted by Hugo Preuss of the Democratic Party. Preuss aimed to create a unitary Reich by breaking up Prussia and abolishing the old states (Länder) in favour of a new division by provinces. However, he was unable to achieve this, and the republic retained a federal basis. The powers of the Reich were strengthened, and it gained overriding control of all taxation.
The Weimar Constitution consisted of two main parts or chapters, which were further divided into seven and five sections, respectively, totalling 181 articles. The first part of the constitution specified the organisation of the various parts of the federal government, with Section 1 consisting of Articles 1 to 19 and establishing the German Reich as a republic whose power derived from the people. The Reich was defined as the region encompassed by the German states, with the possibility of incorporating other regions based on popular self-determination.
The Weimar Constitution created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament consisting of two houses: the lower house, the Reichstag, and the appointed upper house, the Reichsrat. The Reichstag was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation, while the Reichsrat represented the interests of the federal states. The president of Germany had supreme command over the military, extensive emergency powers, and appointed and removed the chancellor, who was responsible to the Reichstag. The constitution included a wide range of civic rights, such as freedom of speech and habeas corpus, and guaranteed freedom of religion without establishing a state church.
Cherokee Constitution: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
The Weimar Republic was a federal semi-presidential republic
The Weimar Constitution provided for a president, who was elected every seven years and held extensive powers. The president had supreme command over the military, the right to appoint and remove the chancellor and cabinet members, and extensive emergency powers. The chancellor was the leader of the Reichstag, the lower house of parliament, and was responsible for determining the political guidelines of the government. The Reichstag was elected by universal suffrage using a system of proportional representation, which resulted in political instability due to the presence of many different parties in the legislature.
The Weimar Constitution included a significant number of civic rights, such as freedom of speech, habeas corpus, and freedom of religion. It also extended the right to vote to all men and women over the age of 20, which was a significant increase in women's rights. The constitution consisted of two main parts or chapters, further divided into several sections, with a total of 181 articles.
The Weimar Republic was characterised by political instability, with governments tending to be minority coalitions of moderate liberal and conservative parties. The republic faced challenges such as economic hardship, political violence, and the rise of far-right movements. Despite its attempts to establish democracy in Germany, the Weimar Republic ultimately ended with the rise of Nazi Germany and the establishment of a dictatorship.
The Constitution of Trinidad and Tobago: A Historical Overview
You may want to see also
Explore related products
$9.99 $9.99
The president had supreme command over the military and could declare a state of emergency
The Weimar Constitution was written in 1919, following the collapse of the Second Reich and the November Revolution of 1918. This new constitution replaced Germany's constitutional monarchy with a parliamentary democracy.
The constitution created a federal semi-presidential republic with a parliament, the Reichstag, whose lower house was elected by universal suffrage using proportional representation. The president of Germany had supreme command over the military and could appoint and remove the chancellor, who was responsible to the Reichstag.
The president's power over the military was significant, and it was further bolstered by their ability to appoint and remove the chancellor and, on the chancellor's recommendation, the members of the cabinet. The chancellor determined the political guidelines of their government. In the event of a tie in the cabinet, the president's vote was decisive.
The Weimar Constitution also gave the president extensive emergency powers. Article 48 of the constitution allowed the president to declare a state of emergency and rule by decree, bypassing the elected Reichstag. This article was included to allow a strong executive leader to take decisive action in times of crisis without navigating a potentially slower legislative process. However, it did not define what constituted a "state of emergency".
The emergency powers granted by Article 48 were repeatedly misused by Hindenburg, and this ultimately allowed Hitler to 'legally' take control of Germany. After the Reichstag Fire of 1933, Hitler relied on the precedent of Article 48 to pass the Enabling Act, which gave him unlimited dictatorial powers and effectively eliminated the Reichstag as an active force in German politics.
Fundamental Principles: The Constitution's Core Values
You may want to see also
The chancellor was appointed by the president and was responsible to the Reichstag
The Weimar Republic was a new system of democratic government established in Germany following the collapse of the Second Reich. The first elections for the new Republic were held on 19 January 1919, with the Social Democratic Party winning 38% of the vote and 163 seats. The Catholic Centre Party won 20% of the vote and 91 seats, and the Democratic Party won 19% of the vote and 75 seats. The rest of the seats were divided between smaller parties. The Weimar Constitution, written in 1919, set the framework for the Weimar Republic.
Under the Weimar Constitution, the chancellor was appointed by the president and was responsible to the Reichstag. The chancellor was the leader of the Reichstag and held a similar position to the British Prime Minister. The chancellor would typically be the leader of the largest party, although this was not always the case. The chancellor was responsible for determining the political guidelines of his government and had to conduct business in accordance with given rules of procedure. The chancellor's power to determine political guidelines was limited by his own party, as well as the other parties in the governing coalition. The Weimar Constitution stipulated that the chancellor was appointed by the president and could be removed by him. The chancellor was also responsible for recommending members of the cabinet to the president for appointment. The chancellor and ministers were compelled to resign if the Reichstag passed a vote of no confidence.
The Reichstag was the central legislative body under the Constitution of the Weimar Republic. It was elected for a four-year term and its main functions were legislation, including approval of the budget, and scrutiny of the Reich Government. The Reichstag was made up of various political parties, which often had different aims and policies, leading to disagreements and difficulty governing. The Reichstag had the power to pass a vote of no confidence in the chancellor, which could result in the chancellor's resignation.
The president of the Reich was directly elected by the people and had extensive powers under the Weimar Constitution. The president's powers included the right to dissolve the Reichstag and declare a state of emergency in the event of public safety being endangered. The president also had the authority to enact emergency decrees, which had the status of laws. The president's extensive powers were intended to be a counterweight to the Reichstag. The Weimar Constitution gave the president the power to appoint and remove the chancellor, as well as the authority to rule by decree in a state of emergency, bypassing the elected Reichstag.
Text Messages: Written Notice or Not?
You may want to see also
Frequently asked questions
The Weimar Republic Constitution was formally promulgated on August 11, 1919.
The Weimar Republic 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 Republic Constitution provided for a popularly elected president who was given considerable power over foreign policy and the armed forces. It also included a significant number of civic rights such as freedom of speech and habeas corpus.
