Weimar Constitution

• How was the head of state elected in the Weimar Republic compared to the Kaiser?

  The head of state was elected, unlike the Kaiser.
• What was the intended balance of power between the President and the Chancellor in the Weimar Constitution?

  The Constitution aimed to balance the President's power with the Chancellor, who would manage day-to-day operations.
• How did the Weimar Constitution actually affect the power of the President?

  It left the President potentially very powerful, allowing them to choose and dismiss the Chancellor and use Article 48 to pass laws without consulting the Reichstag.
• How many times did President Ebert use Article 48 between 1918 and 1925?

  President Ebert used Article 48 on 136 occasions.
• What was the significance of allowing women to vote in the Weimar Republic?

  It was unusual for the time as it allowed women to vote on the same terms as men.
• How did proportional representation work in the Weimar elections?

  Proportional representation ensured the number of deputies a party received was directly linked to their percentage of votes in elections.
• What was a consequence of proportional representation in the Weimar Republic?

  It required a party to gain over 50% of the vote to control the Reichstag, leading to weak and unstable coalition governments.
• What was the longest duration a Weimar government lasted between 1918 and 1923?


  The longest a Weimar government lasted was 18 months.
• How did the number of political parties affect the stability of the Weimar government?

  The presence of more than 30 political parties made it harder to create stable governments with a Reichstag majority.
• Which political party opposed Weimar democracy?

  The NSDAP (Nazi Party) was one of the smaller parties that opposed Weimar democracy.
• What was a democratic aspect of the creation of the Weimar Constitution?

  The constitution was drawn up by an assembly elected by the people.
• What was a criticism of the constituent assembly that created the Weimar Constitution?

  The constituent assembly was dominated by the Socialist SPD, and conservatives never fully accepted the Weimar constitution.
• What rights did the Bill of Rights in the Weimar Constitution guarantee?

  It guaranteed individual rights and benefits for workers, such as sickness and unemployment pay.
• What was a consequence of the increased taxation needed to fund sick pay in the Weimar Republic?

  The elites and business owners resented the increased taxation required to fund sick pay.
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?

  Strengths:

  • Elected head of state
  • Guaranteed individual rights and benefits for workers
  • Proportional representation allowed fair representation

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • President had significant power
  • Coalition governments were weak and unstable
  • Many political parties made it hard to achieve a majority
  • The constitution was not accepted by conservative elites
• What was the overall conclusion regarding the Weimar Constitution's effectiveness?

  In theory, it created a highly democratic state, but in reality, it was not accepted by the conservative elite, leading to a powerful President and unstable governments.