The Weimar constitution

• What is the purpose of a country's Constitution?

  It lists fundamental laws and structures for governance
• What was a significant issue with the viar Constitution?

  Some rules threatened democracy
• When did the Kaiser of Germany abdicate?

  November 1918
• What did Germany agree to with the allies?

  An Armistice
• Who established the new government in the viar Republic?

  Chancellor Friedrich Ebert
• What was one of the first tasks of the new government?

  To agree on a new constitution
• How was the viar Constitution different from previous German governance?

  It aimed for a democratic and stable government
• How often was the president elected under the viar Constitution?

  Every seven years
• What was the president's role in day-to-day politics?

  He had no role in day-to-day politics
• What significant power did the president have during a crisis?

  Rule by decree
• What was the intention behind Article 48?

  To be used only in dire emergencies
• What was the role of the chancellor in the viar Constitution?

  Head of government, choosing main ministers
• How often were the Reichstag and Reichsrat elected?

  Every four years
• What was the significance of proportional representation in the Reichstag?

  It allowed small parties to have representation
• What was the voting age reduced to in Germany?

  21 years
• How did the electorate influence the government?

  They elected the Reichstag, Reichsrat, and president
• What were the strengths of the viar Constitution?

  It confirmed democracy and voting equality
• What was a major weakness of proportional representation?

  It led to unstable coalition governments
• How many governments were there in the first four years of the viar Republic?

  Nine governments
• How did the use of Article 48 affect perceptions of the government?

  It made the government appear weak and autocratic
• What did Article 48 allow the president to do?

  Rule without the Reichstag in a crisis
• What was the impact of Friedrich Ebert's establishment of the viar government?

  It was established by violence despite being democratic
• Which parties supported the viar Republic?

  Socialists and centrists
• What was the role of smaller parties in the Reichstag?

  They had representation but complicated governance
• What were the main features of the viar Constitution?

  President elected every seven years, Reichstag elected every four years
• What are the strengths and weaknesses of the viar Constitution?

  Strengths:

  • Confirmed democracy
  • Voting equality for all over 21
  • Proportional representation for all parties

  
  

  Weaknesses:

  • Coalition governments often collapsed
  • Article 48 allowed president to bypass Reichstag
  • Perceived weakness in governance
• How did Article 48 contribute to the perception of autocracy in Germany?

  It allowed the president to rule without the Reichstag
• What did the cartoon with the coffin symbolize regarding the viar Constitution?

  It represented the threat to democracy from Article 48
• What was the significance of the viar Constitution in European history?

  Germany was one of the first democracies
• How did the variety of parties in the Reichstag affect governance?

  It made it difficult to reach agreements
• What was the relationship between the president and the chancellor?

  The president chose the chancellor and could dismiss him
• What did the term "deputies" refer to in the context of the Reichstag?

  It is synonymous with MPs in British politics
• What was the role of the electorate in the viar Republic?

  They elected representatives and leaders
• How did the viar Constitution reflect Germany's federal structure?

  It combined central and local government
• What was the impact of the economic crisis on the viar government?

  Chancellors increasingly relied on Article 48
• What did the term "Coalition governments" refer to in the viar Republic?

  Parties teaming up to command a majority
• What did the term "Reichstag" refer to?

  The elected parliament of Germany
• How did the viar Constitution aim to prevent autocracy?

  By establishing democratic elections and checks on power
• What was the significance of the voting equality in the viar Republic?

  It allowed all adults over 21 to vote
• What did the term "Reichsrat" refer to?

  The upper house of the German parliament