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Reich Government EMPEROR CHANCELLOR: • Alwys the king of Prussia • Chief minister of the Reich • Could appoint and dismiss the Chancellor • Not responsible to Reichstag, only to the Emperor • Controlled foregn policy • He decided upon Reich policy outlines • Could make treaties and alliances • Chaired sessions of the Bundesrat • Commanded the army • Could 'hire and fire' State secretaries responsible • Could declare war and make peace for the various government ministries • Supervised the execution of all Federal laws • Could ignore resolutions passed by the Reichstag • Possessed the right to interpret the constitution • Office was normally combined with the minister­ presidency of Prussia FEDERAL ­ Centralisied government with specific STATE ­ Regional government with specific responsibilities responsibilities for the Reich as a whole, e.g. Reich for individual states, e.g. education, transport, direct taxation, foreign affairs, defence, civil and criminal law, government police, local justice, health customs, railways, postal service. BUNDESRAT • The federal council Reichstag • Comprised 58 members nominated by State assemblies • The national parliament • Consent was required in the passing of new laws • Elected by all males over 25 years of age • Theoretically able to change the new constitution • Could accept or reject laws, but not initiate them • A vote of 14 a against a proposal constituted a veto • State secretaries were excluded from membership of Reichstag • Prussia had 17 of the 58 seats and not responsible to it • Bavaria had 6 seats and the smaller states 1 each • Members were not paid • In theory, it had extensive powers. In practice • Could approve or reject the budget it usually rubber stamped the Chancellor's policies. • Elected every 5 years (unless dissolved okt 29­12:35 1 THE CHANCELLORSHIP OF BISMARCK The unification of Germany had not been achieved by a popular revolution but by the extension of the power of one of the states. The old social structure remained largely intact, and the constitutional system of the new Germany strongly reflected the old regime. Flag of the German confederation 1848­66 Flag of the German Empire 1871­1918 nov 1­16:18 2 CONSOLIDATION A variety of factors combined to assist the development of unity; 1) The ZOLLVEREIN had prepared the way for economic unity. 2) As goods already moved freely about Germany it promoted THE DEVELOPMENT OF A NETWORK OF COMMUNICATIONS. 3) A COMMON LANGUAGE AND A COMMON CULTURE also assisted the process of unification. nov 1­16:32 3 4) Bismarck seized every opportunity to display the imperial symbol, and to apply the adjectival "REICHS"; A REICHSBANK, REICHSCURRENCY, REICHSPOST. 5) A start was made on a common code of GERMAN LAW, and court procedures were made uniform. 6) ADMINISTRATIVE SYSTEMS were modelled on a common German pattern. nov 1­16:34 4 7) EDUCATIONAL institutions developed NATIONAL COHERENCE. 8) COMPULSORY SERVICE IN THE GERMAN ARMY. nov 1­16:40 5 The successful partnership between Wilhelm I and Bismarck continued until the death of the Kaiser in 1888, and Bismarck remained the Chancellor of the German Empire until 1890. The continuity of government ensured that the Empire was founded on secure beginnings, and it also ensured that Germany was extensively Prussianized. War ensign of Prussia nov 1­16:44 6 Germany was a FEDERAL STATE. It emraced 26 units, each of which retained its own state government and tried to retain something of its own identity. The German Empire consisted of the four kingdoms of Prussia, Bavaria, Wurttemberg and Saxony, 18 lesser states, 3 free cities, and the Imperial territory of Alsac­Lorraine. The units varied greatly in area and influence. But though the Empire was a federation in practice Prussia dominated all the other states. Prussia was by far the largest of the constituent parts with approximately 60% of the area and population (24.7 out of 41 million). Federal states of Germany today nov 1­16:52 7 ORGANIZATION OF GERMAN CONSTITUTION (1871) (A sham democracy) In theory, the German Empire created in 1871 was a voluntary association of German states governed by as free a constitution as existed anywhere in Europe. In practice, behind each article of that constitution lurked the power and influence of Prussia. There was an Imperial Legislature (lagstiftande församling) consisting of two houses, BUNDESRAT and the REICHSTAG. nov 2­07:49 8 THE BUNDESRAT ­consisted of 58 members representing the 26 states (Prussia­17, Bavarie­6, Wurttemberg­4, the rest­1). ­had the power to initiate legislation. ­Could, together with the Emperor declare war and settle disputes between states. ­Nominated annually by the legislatures of the states. ­Agreement was required before bills were passed by the Reichstag. Had to be consulted on all important matters of foreign policy but due it steadily lost influence. ­A vote of 14 against a motion meant its rejection, which meant that Prussia could control the Bundesrat. The chamber of the Bundesrat in the Reichstag building nov 2­07:57 9 THE REICHSTAG ­Elections/3 year by all men over 25. ­Could reject laws, but not initiate them. ­Could initiate taxes, but not change old ones. ­The Emperor could and did dissolve it (together with the Bundesrat). ­It had the power to question the Chancellor and to initiate debate upon any point of his policy Could not influence the appointment of ministers (including the Chancellor) ­ no control over the government (Ministers were not responsible to the Reichstag). Members of the Reichstag could not be appointed ministers. ­It had theoretical control over any alteration to the military budget, but gave away these powers in the fear of a constitutional crises. Excluded from review of military expenditure and foreign treaties. ­The lack of payment of members until 1906 discriminated against lower class and more radical representatives nov 2­08:01 10 THE KAISER HAD CONSIDERABLE POTENTIAL POWER, which Wilhelm I tended to delegate to Bismarck. ­Controlled the armed forces (could declare a "defensive" war. ­The chancellor was appointed by and only resposible to the Kaiser. ­The Kaiser could veto legislation and dissolve the Reichstag. Bismarck Wilhelm I nov 2­08:03 11 ECONOMIC POLICY The unification and the French Indemnity encouraged an economic growth, while the newly­gained iron of Lorraine stimulated the growth of the heavy industry. The economic history of the new Germany opened with a short period of financial euphoria, fuelled by over­generous credit policies on the part of German bankers, and by large amounts of capital pumped into the economy by French war reparations. These stimuli set off a wave of unsound investment projects whose eventual collapse struck a blow to business confidence whose effects could still be felt nearly 20 years later. nov 2­10:38 12 From 1873, however, the Empire was affected by the long lasting general economic depression. In terms of production and of economic growth, the German recovery took place relatively quickly. The production levels of 1872­73 had been reached again by 1880. But the psychological impact of the slump was considerable, and the effect of the depression on political mentalities was to last well beyond 1880. Due to the decline in trade German industrialists began demanding protection by higher tariffs. nov 2­10:50 13 Even though Germany faced financial crisis, due to Bismarck's protectionist policy, the country had a spectacular economic growth between 1871­1914. By 1914 Germany had become the second greatest trading nation in the World. There were several consequences associated with this growth: 1) URBANISATION. Besides a strong populationgrowth (41 to 67 million , 1871­1913) there was a disproportionate growth of towns. 2) CHANGES IN OCCUPATIONAL DISTRIBUTION. In 1860 ­ 70% depended on agriculture, by 1907­ 28,4%, while 42,4% worked in the industry. Administrative services was the fastest growing sector from then on. 3) THE EMERGENCE OF CARTELS. A concentration of production into a small number of large firms designed to keep up prices. 4) REGIONAL VARIATIONS. Rural,agricultural and poor east ­ urbanized, industrialized and rich West. THE PERSISTENCE OF POWERFUL PRIVILIGED ELITES 1) THE NOBILITY. ­Social dominance of the noble landowners on the countryside ­Monopoly of official positions, in the army and in the higher ranks of the government and the administration the nobles enjoyed a preferred status. 2) THE ARMY ­Freed from most of the control, a state within the state. ­Enjoyed a very high status as the creator of the unified Germany (above all criticism). A school for citizenship. ­The officer corps were mostly drawn from the nobility. Jews were not to be appointed officers. ­Used to crush popular social disturbances. nov 2­10:53 14.
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