Weimar Republic

• Who was at the bottom of the Weimar Constitution?

  The Electorate
• Who was second bottom in the Weimar Constitution?

  The Parliament
• Who was second in the Weimar Constitution?

  The Government
• Who was at the top of the Weimar Constitution?

  The Head of State
• Who made up the electorate?

  All men and women over 20 who gained the vote by proportional representation
• What two parties made up the parliament?

  The Reichstag and the Reischrat
• Who were the Reichsrat?

  Elected members who represented the 18 regions of Germany and could approve laws
• Who were the Reichstag?

  The most powerful members of parliament who were elected by the people every 4 years
• Who made up the government?

  The Chancellor and the Cabinet
• Who were the cabinet?

  Ministers who worked with the chancellor to make decisions
• Who was the chancellor?


  The head of the government who chose all ministers
• Who was the Head of State?

  The President who was elected every 7 years. He played no part in day-to-day politics and chose the chancellor and supreme commander of the army
• What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution's democracy?

  The voting age was reduced to 20 and women were able to vote
• What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution's proportional representation strategy?


  It meant the number of seats parties got in the reichstage was based on the number of votes so that even small parties had a chance
• What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution's president status?

  The president was elected by the people and chose the chancellor. They could dismiss the reichstag if needed and protected the country in a crisis
• What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution's government?

  They could make laws and each of the 18 provinces had a local government
• What were the strengths of the Weimar Constitution's civil service?

  Members helped the efficient running of the country
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution's democracy?

  Communists and nationalists hated democracy but were still able to gain seats
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution's proportional representation strategy?


  The only way governments could be formed was by coalition which often fell apart. Extremist parties could also gain seats
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution's president status?

  Article 48 - in an emergency the president didn't need the agreement of the reichstag and could issue a decree to pass a law
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution's government?

  The new government relied on the power of the army to crush rebellions against the republic
• What were the weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution's civil service?

  Many did not agree with the liberal views of the Weimar