Ways the Weimar Constitution Created Democracy in Germany
The constitution of the Weimar Republic, drafted by the liberal jurist
Hugo Preuss, aimed to combine the principles of the first ten
amendments of the Constitution of the United States, the French
Declaration of the Rights of Man, and twentieth-century modifications.
From the German viewpoint, it represented a major break from the
former imposing regime, which had been far more authoritarian than
democratic. Therefore in theory, the constitution of the Weimar
Republic comprised the most advanced democracy in Europe, preserving a
wide range of liberal policies while retaining a degree of stability
and continuity with the past. The first clause of the constitution
began; ‘The German Reich is a republic. Political authority is derived
from the people.’
The electoral system was as advanced as anywhere in Europe, based on
“universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage by men and women over
twenty years of age, according to the principle of proportional
representation.’’ Everyone over 20 could vote for party lists for the
Reichstag every four years: for state assemblies every four years: for
President every seven years. The electorate also had the plebiscite
powers, electing every 7 years the President who, as suitable for a
republican constitution, replaced the former Kaiser as head of state.
While power appeared to be concentrated with lawmakers in the
legislature, (the elected deputies of the Reichstag), considerable
authority was also placed in the hands of the executive, those
responsible for seeing that the laws were put into effect, (the
President). In certain circumstances, the president had the power to
rule by decree and govern the republic directly. In the event of an
emergency, article 48 of the Constitution allowed the President to
suspend civil liberties, take emergency powers and rule by decree.
The two parliamentary institutions were the Reichstag and the
Reichsrat. The Reichstag contained the elected deputies and alone had
the authority to introduce and approve legislation. The reichsrat,
largely an advisory body, was of far less importance and only had the