The constitution of the Second
Reich
Kaiser, Chancellor and
Reichstag
Keywords-Connector
• Kaiser
• Chancellor
• Reichstag
• was the parliament of the
Holy Roman Empire, the
North German
Confederation, and of
Germany until 1945
• the title of the Holy
Roman Emperors or the
emperors of Austria or of
Germany until 1918
• the person who is head of
state
Outcomes
• All student to know the roles of the Kaiser,
Chancellor and Reichstag
• Most to be able to see how their powers
would be limited
• Some to relate Germany’s constitution to
Britain’s
The roles
• Germany’s constitution did not evolve like
Britian’s
• It was introduced during the formation of
the German state
• Why would this cause problems?
• What happened to Britain's constitution
The Candidates
Who?
Kaiser
Reichstag
Chancellor
Powers?
Problems?
Otto von Bismarck
• During the reign of
Kaiser William I (18711888), Bismarck
(nicknamed the Iron
Chancellor) was the
most powerful man in
the Empire and
completely dominated
the government of the
Reich.
The Constitution
• Prussia dominated the new Germany that was called the
Second Reich. It covered two thirds of the land area
and contained the same proportion of the population. It
had practically all the industry.
• The new constitution drawn up by Bismarck was a
Federal system.
– Each of the twenty-five states had considerable control over their
affairs and decided their own form of government; e.g. Bavaria
and Saxony were ruled by kings.
– Under the constitution there were to be three branches of the
Federal government:
The People
• The Presidency which was held by the King of Prussia (as
German Emperor). The German Emperor had considerable powers.
He had personal control of the armed forces. He appointed and
dismissed all ministers including the Chancellor.
• The Federal Council (or Bundesrat) represented the different
states of the Empire. It had fifty-eight members. Seventeen were
from Prussia, six from Bavaria, four from Saxony. It had the power to
change the constitution. However no change could be made to the
constitution if fourteen delegates objected. This in practice meant
that Prussia could always stop change.
• The Parliament or Reichstag was elected by Universal Male
Suffrage (all males over 25 could vote) and Secret Ballot. It voted
on the Federal budget and its consent was needed for all legislation.
• This was the most advanced system in Europe at this time.
But….
• However, the powers of the Reichstag were
limited:
• It could not initiate legislation.
• It had no say in the appointment or dismissal of
the Chancellor or Imperial ministers. The
Imperial Chancellor was appointed by the
Emperor. He was in charge of foreign policy.
• The Kaiser (in effect Bismarck) could dissolve
it any time with the agreement of the Bundesrat
The Kulturkampf
• After unification about two-thirds of
Germans were Protestant (mainly
Lutheran) while about one-third were
Catholics
• Why would this cause problems?
Make notes on (Sub headings)
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
Constitution
Federal State
Kaiser / Kaiser Wilhelm II
The Chancellor
Budesrat
Reichstag
Army
Bureaucracy
Resources
• http://www.chicousd.org/~bsilva/projects/g
ermany/2ndreich/index.html
• http://www.cyberessays.com/History/73.ht
m
Examples
• Find
– Examples of use of power by the Kaiser/
Reichstag/ Chancellor
– Find out examples of weaknesses of power
by the Kaiser/ Reichstag/ Chancellor
Review
• Do the first part of this
– http://www.educationforum.co.uk/const.htm