German Empire in 1871

Reich Government

Emperor

Always the King of Prussia Could appoint and dismiss the Chancellor Could dissolve the Reichstag Controlled Foreign Policy Could make treaties and Alliances Commanded the army Could declare war and make peace Supervised the execution of all federal laws Possessed the right to interpret the constitution

Emperor (binary/octet-stream)

Caption: : William the 1st with Bismarck and his subjects

Chancellor

Chief Minister of the Reich Not responsible to Reichstag, only the emperor Decided upon Reich policy outlines Chaired sessions of the Bundesrat Could hire and fire state secretaries responsible for the various government ministries Could ignore resolutions passed by the Reichstag Office was normally combined with the Minister-Presidency of Prussia

Bismarck (binary/octet-stream)

Caption: : Bismarck

Federal

Centralised government with specific responsibilities for the Reich as a whole.  These could include: Foreign affairs Defence civil and criminal law customs railways  postal service

Germany Map Unification 1815 1871 (binary/octet-stream)

State

Regional government with specific responsibilities for individual states. Roles could include: education transport direct taxation police local justice health

German States (binary/octet-stream)

Bundesrat

The federal council Comprised 58 members nominated by state assemblies Consent was required in the passing of new laws Theoretically able to change the constitution A vote of 14 against a proposal constituted a veto Prussia had 17 of the 58 seats Bavaria had 6 seats and the smaller states one each Potentially extensive power

Bundesrat A (binary/octet-stream)

Reichstag

The national Parliament Elected by all males over 25 years of age Accept or reject legislations State secretaries were excluded from membership of the Reichstag and not responsible to it Members were not paid Could approve or reject the budget Elected every 5 years (unless dissolved)

600px Berlin Reichstag Building At Night 2013 (binary/octet-stream)

Autocratic or Democratic?

Autocratic?

Democratic?

Prussian Dominance?

Success?

Failure?

Bismarck as Imperial Chancellor

Reichstag

Role of the Army

Emperor William I

German Disunity

Economic Development

German Society