Second Reich Constitution

Second Reich Constitution

1. Imperial Chancellor

   • Appointed by Kaiser.
   • Chief minister.
   • Other ministers accountable to Chief minister.

2. Kaiser

   • Appoint and dismiss federal ministers.
   • Commander in chief of army.
   • Dissolve Reichstag and force General Election
   • Controlled Foreign Policy.

3. Federal Council

   • Representatives from 25 states.
     • State Governments
       • Excluding "Free Cities", the State Governments were headed by hereditary Kings/Princes/Grand Dukes/Dukes who had ruled pre-1871
       • 25 individual States responsible for policing, education, social welfare. Could raise own taxes.
   • Delegations varied in number depending on size of state.
   • Their consent needed for any new law.

4. Reichstag

   • National Parliament
   • Shared Law-making powers with Fed-Council, had right to discuss, amend, accept or reject
   • Couldn't initiate Legislation.
   • Government Ministers not accountable to Reichstag.
   • Federal Electorate
     • All German men over 25.

5. State Parliaments

   • Most States had their own Law-making assembly (Landtag).
   • State Electorate
     • Each State decided on its' own electoral requirements.
     • In Prussia There was a Three-Tier Franchise which gave a disproportionate amount of political influence to the wealthy.