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The Kaiserreich: Political authority - Coggle Diagram
The Kaiserreich: Political authority
The extent and make-up of the German Empire in 1871
There was competition for influence over Prussia, the biggest state, and Austria, Prussia's neighbour.
Wilhelm 1 was proclaimed German Kaiser in 1971 and his newly united Germany was hailed the Kaiserreich or the Second Reich.
Before 1871 there was no single state of Germany. Napoleon had destroyed all 300 previous states.
Kaiser Wilhelm presided over 26 states including Prussia which made up for 60% of the area. The new Germany became a federal state and each separate state was self governed and had its own monarchy.
The 1871 Constitution
Government: Chancellors and ministers. Appointed and dismissed by Kaiser. Decided outlined of policies. Chancellor gave assent to laws, with Kaiser.
Reichstag: Parliament, lower house. Members elected by males over 25. Deputies had free speech. Elections held every 3 years. Gave consent to all laws. Could question, agree or debate the Chancellors propositions. Could not amend a law.
Kaiser: Hereditary monarch. Appointed and dismissed chancellor and ministers. Could call and dissolve the Reichstag. Controlled foreign policy. Gave assent to all laws with the chancellor. Had the final say in all matters.
Bundesrat: Upper house. 58 representatives from 25 states in proportion to size. Presided by Chancellor. Could initiate legislation. Had to approve new laws. Had to give approval to the Kaiser about war.
The role of Emperor and Chancellor
The Emperor: had all considerable power and controlled all appointments to the executive and civil service. According to article 17, it was his duty to prepare and publish the laws of the Empire and to supervise their execution. One of his more important tasks was to appoint the Chancellor
The Chancellor worked with the Kaiser in decision making, giving his own assent to all decrees and co-ordinating the complex machinery of government.
Kaiser Wilhelm 1 became so dependant on his chancellor, Otto Von Bismarck, and he more or less allowed Bismarck to govern in his own way. He could usually get away with whatever he wanted by threatening to resign.
Political groupings, and parties
The political framework was laid down by Bismarck
They represented the interests of different sections of the community and aimed to be in a position to advance the concerns of their followers
The parties weren't competing for the right to rule the country or preparing manifestos, they were more like pressure groups.
Militarism
The Kaiser had strong prussian military identity.
Weltpolotik
Zabern affair
The States' power
Each state had their own parliaments.
Some states even had their own amy, such as Bavaria.
This evidences power to be very decentralised, perhaps weakening the Kaiser's political authority.