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The document discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution. It established a democratic system of governance in Germany with a President as head of state, elected every 7 years, and a Chancellor as head of government. However, it had two major flaws: proportional representation made it difficult to form stable governments, and Article 48 gave the President broad powers to rule by decree during emergencies.

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207 views

Untitled

The document discusses the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution. It established a democratic system of governance in Germany with a President as head of state, elected every 7 years, and a Chancellor as head of government. However, it had two major flaws: proportional representation made it difficult to form stable governments, and Article 48 gave the President broad powers to rule by decree during emergencies.

Uploaded by

api-245498585
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© © All Rights Reserved
We take content rights seriously. If you suspect this is your content, claim it here.
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What were the strengths and

weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?


L/O To evaluate the terms, strengths and
weaknesses of the new constitution

Forming a new government


After the abdication of the
Kaiser, there was unrest all
around Germany.
Armed groups with extreme
political views clashed with the
army and even claimed control.
Ebert slowly began to take
control and a temporary
government was formed
Council of Peoples
Representatives.

Forming a new government


This temporary government
organised elections for a
National Assembly on 19th
January 1919. The winners
met on 6th February 1919 to
create a new constitution.
Due to unrest in Berlin, the
Assembly met in Weimar. The
new constitution was signed
into law by the Assembly on
11th August 1919 thus the
Weimar Republic was born.

Weimar democracy

Chancellor (Head of Government) chose


ministers and ran the country but to pass laws
need majority support in the Reichstag

Reichrat could delay new laws unless


overruled by a 2/3 majority in the
Reichstag
Reichstag dominant house of new
parliament. Controlled taxation. Members
elected every 4 years. All men & women over
20 could vote. Proportional Representation
was used.
4 of 9

Weimar democracy

President (Head of State) directly


elected every 7 years

Boardworks Ltd 2009

Weaknesses of the Constitution


One major problem for the Weimar Republic was that its
constitution had two serious flaws.
1. Proportional representation (PR).
All votes were counted up centrally to divide seats
fairly between parties.

2. Article 48.

This was a clause that gave the president of the Weimar


Republic the right to dismiss parliament and rule by
himself if he decided there was a state of emergency.

5 of 10

Boardworks Ltd 2009

Proportional representation and Article 48


Proportional representation made it difficult for one party to get a
majority. Weimar governments were usually weak
coalitions of parties who had different ideas about how the
country should be run.
Between 1919 and 1932 Germany had 21 different

governments.

It was difficult to pass laws in the Reichstag because the


government was so weak. The president increasingly used
his powers under Article 48 to pass legislation.
In 1930, three times as many laws were passed by the president
as were passed by the Reichstag.

6 of 10

Boardworks Ltd 2009

Proportional representation and Article 48

LO: Understand
and explain the nature and significance of political problems faced by
the new republic.
7 of 10
Boardworks Ltd 2009

Forming a new government


Friedrich Ebert was elected by the
Assembly as the first President. He
gradually gained control of the country by:
1. Promising General Groner, the head of
the German Army, that there would be no
reform of the armed forces.
2. He reassured the industrialists leader,
Hugo Stinnes, that there would be no
nationalisation of private business.
3. He ensured support of trade unions by
promising their leader, Karl Legien, a
max working day of 8 hrs.

Exam Question (Section A, Part B)


Describe one effect of the new
constitution on Germany (4 marks)
A basic answer
(level 1, 1-2 marks)
Will give a consequence, or
effect, but no supporting
detail. Will tell the story
without focusing on the
effect.

Germany became more


democratic (1) after the
constitution was drawn up in
August 1919 by Friedrich Ebert
(2).

One effect of the new constitution


was that Germany became more
A good answer
democratic, because women could
(level 2, 3-4 marks)
now vote and there was a general
Will make a statement giving election, to elect a new government,
a consequence and then
every four years (3). As a result,
develop this statement by
German politics became more
giving extra detail or
diverse as many political parties

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