KEY QUESTION KEY QUESTION: How did the Weimar Republic work? What were its Strengths & Weaknesses?

In 1919 German politicians designed a new set of rules on how to run Germany. CONSTITUTION This is called a CONSTITUTION. They wanted Germany to be much better than it had been before under the Kaiser. Hi Girls!

PRESIDENT Elected every 7 Years Controls armed forces They can use ARTICLE 48 EMERGENCY POWERS. This allows them to stop democracy and rule on their own in a crisis Usually has little say in Government EXCEPT in an emergency. They can use ARTICLE 48 EMERGENCY POWERS. This allows them to stop democracy and rule on their own in a crisis CHANCELLOR Chosen by the President (usually from party with most votes) In charge of running the country Must have the support of at least half the Reichstag (Parliament) to make Laws PRESIDENT Elected every 7 Years Controls armed forces They can use ARTICLE 48 EMERGENCY POWERS. This allows them to stop democracy and rule on their own in a crisis Usually has little say in Government EXCEPT in an emergency. They can use ARTICLE 48 EMERGENCY POWERS. This allows them to stop democracy and rule on their own in a crisis

REICHSTAG (Parliament) Makes Laws Members voted in every 4 years It uses a voting system called PR (Proportional Representation) This means the number of politicians each party has is based on their votes. So 10% of vote = 10% of seats. GERMAN PEOPLE ALL German men AND women could vote at 20 They elect the President and politicians in Reichstag The new constitution guarantees them basic freedoms (Speech, Religion etc)

This new system had many POSITIVES but also many WEAKNESSES. 1)MOST DEMOCRATIC COUNTRY IN THE WORLD! PR allows much more choice 2) VOTES FOR WOMEN AND MEN AT 20!!! (UK was 28 until years later) 3) FREEDOMS 3) FREEDOMS— of Religion, Speech etc guaranteed in the Constitution.

1) PRESIDENT HAS EMERGENCY POWERS - ARTICLE 48 - WHICH THEY CAN USE IN AN EMERGENCY TO SUSPEND DEMOCRACY ! 2) PROPORTIONAL REPRESENTATION (PR) BUT A VERY FAIR VOTING SYSTEM BUT IT LEADS TO SO MANY PARTIES IN ELECTIONS THAT DECISIONS ARE SLOW & GOVERNMENTS WEAK AND UNSTABLE. It also allowed small extreme parties a say !

1.A new Constitution was created in The President was at the top; elected and potentially very powerful with Article 48 – Emergency powers 3.The Chancellor is chosen by the President 4.Weimar had many Strengths and Weaknesses 5.Germans now most free and democratic in world with new freedoms and voting age of 20 for men & women 6.PR voting system allowed greater choice at elections 7.But weaknesses were there too. PR produced too many parties, weak Governments and allowed small parties a say. 8.Emergency powers in the wrong hands could create a dictator