Reasons why Weimar Constitution was handicapped 1919-1933
- Created by: KatyX97
- Created on: 24-05-16 19:28
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- To what extent was the effective government of Germany in the years 1919-23 handicapped by the nature of the Weimar Constitution?
- Factors related to constitution
- PR
- Any political view allowed to be put forward- gave extremism scope
- Opened up way for wide scope, but scope became self-balancing
- Pragmatic solution for country with vast political views across the spectrum
- Lots of different parties with similar views- none could be elected with majority
- Positive- extremist parties needed united front to get into power
- System protected country from extremism (communist or fascist takeover) by prolonging democracy
- Support close to centre (extremists needed bloc)
- 30 parties
- elections frequent and action a little less
- Positive- extremist parties needed united front to get into power
- Coalition governments
- leading political parties chose not to operate system effectively- weren't prepared to compromise
- People lost faith in system of PR and democracy due to instability
- Any political view allowed to be put forward- gave extremism scope
- Article 48
- If Pres. used it wrongly- were threatening democracy
- eg. Hindenburg- used to create governments excluding SPD and including DNVP
- SPD exclusion meant that chancellors found it difficult to build working and sustainable coalitions.
- DNVP inclusion resulted in limitation of scope of many coalitions.
- end of Weimar Republic and ruined democracy
- As Pres used more often- days that Reichstag assembled dwindled and number of bills passed dropped.
- Only became a problem in last 3 years of constitution
- eg. Hindenburg- used to create governments excluding SPD and including DNVP
- Allowed Pres. to do what they liked
- very existence undermined constitution as did not have to cooperate
- Tempting method to fast forward progress in slow and tedious system
- Political effectiveness of government may have been slow, but people could see process and monitor progress.
- By bypassing- boycotting democracy
- If Pres. used it wrongly- were threatening democracy
- The Federal System
- Meant that central government was ruling, but each Lander was separate and could change law to suit themselves
- Hugely diverse quantity of views and wants throughout 18 different Lander- much dissatisfaction- led to Kapp/Munich Putsch
- Also helping- more democratic- voices of community could be heard- needs of indiv. state could be met more easily and quickly
- Meant that central government was ruling, but each Lander was separate and could change law to suit themselves
- PR
- Other Factors
- Extremism
- Largely motivated by events not political situation
- Extremism
- Factors related to constitution
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