key features of the weimar constitution

• • reflected the liberal, democratic and socialist influences of the new system of government
• Democratic elements:

  • universal suffrage: all adult citizens, male and female, had the right to vote
• Democratic elements:

  • president was to be elected every 7 years by universal suffrage
• Democratic elements:

  • president appointed the chancellor
• Democratic elements:

  • the chancellor's government would need to work with the elected representatives in the Reichstag to pass laws.
• Democratic elements:

  • the chancellor was accountable to the Reichstag
• Democratic elements:

  • elections to the Reichstag were to be based on proportional representation
• Democratic elements:

  • the people could pass laws directly through plebiscites
• Liberal elements:

  • civil rights were enshrined in the constitution. rights such as freedom of expression and freedom of assembly were protected to ensure that individuals were protected from the government
• Socialist aspects:

  • insisted on 'social rights'
  • new constitution guaranteed workers the right to work, or the right to welfare if work was unavailable.
• Authoritarian aspects:

  • reflect conservative and aristocratic suspicions about the effectiveness of democracy
  • Article 48 - gave the president extensive emergency powers. in effect the president could suspend the constitution, including civil rights, and rule by decree for a limited period in a state of emergency