Weimar Constitution

• Weimar

  A town in Germany where the newly elected government met to agree a new constitution as Germany was too dangerous
• Constitution


  A set of rules for how the country would be run
• The President


  Elected every 7 years. Controlled army, navy and air force. Not involved in day-to-day running of the country.
• Article 48


  Of the Weimar Constitution stated that the President could rule on his own (without the Reichstag) by issuing decrees if there was an emergency.
• The Chancellor


  Chosen by the President (usually from the party with the most seats in the Reichstag). Responsible for the day-to-day running of the country (law and order, taxation, health care etc.)
• The Reichstag


  Discussed and passed new laws proposed by the Chancellors and his ministers. Members elected every four years
• The Electorate


  All men and women over 20 could vote in elections for the President & Reichstag
• Proportional Representation (PR)

  A system of allocating seats in the Reichstag. If a party got 30% of the votes, they would get 30% of the seats in the Reichstag. This often resulted in coalition governments.
• Rights


  The constitution also guaranteed freedom of speech and rights
• Weaknesses


  Article 48 gave the President great power. Proportional Representation resulted in coalitions that could be weak. Presidents had 7 years between elections.
• Traditionalist Opposition


  Some generals, judges and rich families preferred the old system under the Kaiser where they had more power.
• Strengths


  Much more democratic than the old system. Women could vote. The President elected and the Reichstag had more power.
• November Criminals


  The politicians who made the Weimar Constitution were the same people who surrendered in 1918
• Coalitions


  Governments made up of more than one party. Generally seen to be weak governments as all of the parties had to agree a policy so they were likely to fall out and breakdown.