Weimar Germany

1
Weimar Germany

• Was the Weimar Government doomed from the start?
• An analysis of the Weimar government and its
  institutions.

2
Organisation of the Weimar Republic

• A president elected by the people for 7 years
• A Chancellor elected from within the Reichstag
• Two houses of parliament. The Reichstag, elected
  through Proportional Representation and the
  Reichsrat, the upper, though less important
  institution
• Local, elected, governments to control the
  affairs of the regions

3
The Constitution

• Proportional Representation to elect members of
  the Reichtag which leads invariably to coalition
  governments
• Article 48 allows the president the right to rule
  by decree in case of emergency
• Legislation checked by both parliamentary bodies
  before becoming law but the Reichstag has the
  final say

4
Constitutional weaknesses?

• Article 48 allows rule by decree, this could be
  misused
• Coalition governments are almost inevitable
  leading