The FRG political system.

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  • The FRG 1945-1991
    • Bonn.
      • Adenauer's home town
      • Bonn was described as "a symbol of conspicuous modesty"
      • Sturmer claimed that Churchill wanted Germany to "be like a turkey, fat and important"
      • in the British zone.
    • Adenauer
      • Elected in August 1949, following the first free elections
      • Adenauer was President for 14 years.
    • Basic Law and safeguards
      • The new constitution allowed freedom of:
        • Speech
        • Assembly
        • Association
        • Movement
      • Citizenship
        • granted to everyone of German decent
        • Those fleeing to the FRG were given citizenship immediately
          • The right to live, work, gain an education and claim benefits
          • Around Three million people did this between 1949 and 1961.
        • The right to live, work, gain an education and claim benefits
      • the new system was more representative than partcipatory
      • Basic law was created in the summer of 1948
      • The constitution was adopted in May 1949
        • The new constitution allowed freedom of:
          • Speech
          • Assembly
          • Association
          • Movement
      • it was only meant to be temporary
      • it was a federal state
      • me,bers of the lower chamber (the Bundestag) were elected by a complex voting system
      • Combined principles of proportional representation with first past the post
      • 5% hurdle stopped extremist groups gaining seats
      • No political party was allowed that was not committed to upholding democracy
        • Far right or left parties were banned
      • President not directly elected by the people
      • Chancellors supported by the president with the approval of parliment
    • Political  parties and elections
      • Political parties
        • The CDU/ CSU
          • Made up predominantly of conservative Christians
          • Previously belonged to the Centre party.
          • After the war they set out to be the party that supported capitalism with a human face
          • Their original programme, the Ahlen programme was abandoned in 1957 as it was too traditional
            • they then became the middle of the road conservatives.
        • The SPD
          • A mixture of Marxist socialism and working class movements
          • they realised they couldn't hold onto past traditions if they hopped to get into government
          • Bonn 1959, they set out their new vision of combining social justice, individual freedom and and a regulated capitalist democracy
            • Known as the Bad Godburg rhetoric
          • denounced Marxism
            • Known as the Bad Godburg rhetoric
        • The FDP
          • Formed December 1948
          • made up of an amalgamation of liberal parties
          • Championed the rights of big businesses and individual liberal freedoms
          • it balanced the power of the two major parties
          • held a lot of power in foreign policy
        • The KPD
          • Banned in 1956 by the federal constitutional court
          • they had been deemed undemocratic
        • The SRP
          • banned in 1951 for being an extremist group
          • essentially a fascist party
        • The BHE
          • League of refuges and expelees
          • represented those who had fled
      • The elections
        • 1949
          • CDU got less than a third of the votes
          • had to form a coalition with FDP
        • 1953
          • Adenauer's position as Foreign affairs minister and his success made their vote increase.
          • he chose to run a coalition government
          • BHE minister For Refugees and Expelees, Theador Oberland was included.
            • Controversial as he had played a significant role in Hitler's racist policies up until 1945
            • Forced to resign in 1960 following GDR accusations of war crimes
          • Controversial as he had played a significant role in Hitler's racist policies up until 1945
        • 1957
          • Received 50% of the vote following major success
          • Adenauer gained a reputation as a resourceful politician
          • His election slogan was "no experiments"
        • 1961
          • Vote declined slightly.
          • Adenauer was 85, beginning to lose his grip
          • now only Two major parties left with he FDP just keeping the balance
          • both major parities were now seen as middle ground capitalists with a human face.
        • Grand coalition in 1966. CDU + SPD
        • from 1969 Coalition between SPD and FDP
    • Political stability
      • Adenauer's stability and coalition
      • Adenauer rehabilitated and used experienced former Nazis
      • official easing of Denazification
      • Strong anti-communist feeling of the 1950's
      • reconstruction of towns and cities
      • integrating refugees and expelees immediately
      • Compensating Nazi Victims
      • welfare reforms
      • re-militerisation
      • Foreign policy
      • Economic growth

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