North German Constitution
Encyclopedia
The North German Constitution was the constitution
of the North German Confederation
, which existed from 1867 to 1871. The Constitution of the German Empire
(1871) was closely based upon it.
The first Reichstag, the parliament of the confederation, was elected on February 12th 1867. On April 16th it accepted the constitution, which was essentially written by Otto von Bismarck
, the Prussian minister-president and first Bundeskanzler (the sole minister) of the confederation. North German liberals had their influence on it.
According to the constitution, the highest organ of the confederation was the Bundesrat (Federal Council). It represented the governments of the North German states. Prussia had 17 of 43 votes in the council, giving it the right of vetoing. By constitution, the King of Prussia was the President of the council and also the confederation. He installed the Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor), the chief of executive.
The Reichstag (although the confederation was called Bund) was the parliament, elected by all male north Germans above the age of 25. This was quite extraordinary in those times; Bismarck introduced this in the hope that it would create conservative majorities. Reichstag and council together had legislative powers, making the democratically elected Reichstag an important and powerful organ.
After the Franco-Prussian War
of 1870/1871, the south German states Baden, Bavaria and Württemberg joined the confederation. It was renamed Deutsches Reich (German Empire
), and the constitution of the confederation, with little changes, became the Constitution of the German Empire
.
Constitution
A constitution is a set of fundamental principles or established precedents according to which a state or other organization is governed. These rules together make up, i.e. constitute, what the entity is...
of the North German Confederation
North German Confederation
The North German Confederation 1866–71, was a federation of 22 independent states of northern Germany. It was formed by a constitution accepted by the member states in 1867 and controlled military and foreign policy. It included the new Reichstag, a parliament elected by universal manhood...
, which existed from 1867 to 1871. The Constitution of the German Empire
Constitution of the German Empire
The Constitution of the German Empire was the basic law of the German Empire of 1871-1919, enacted 16 April 1871. German historians often refer to it as Bismarck's imperial constitution....
(1871) was closely based upon it.
The first Reichstag, the parliament of the confederation, was elected on February 12th 1867. On April 16th it accepted the constitution, which was essentially written by Otto von Bismarck
Otto von Bismarck
Otto Eduard Leopold, Prince of Bismarck, Duke of Lauenburg , simply known as Otto von Bismarck, was a Prussian-German statesman whose actions unified Germany, made it a major player in world affairs, and created a balance of power that kept Europe at peace after 1871.As Minister President of...
, the Prussian minister-president and first Bundeskanzler (the sole minister) of the confederation. North German liberals had their influence on it.
According to the constitution, the highest organ of the confederation was the Bundesrat (Federal Council). It represented the governments of the North German states. Prussia had 17 of 43 votes in the council, giving it the right of vetoing. By constitution, the King of Prussia was the President of the council and also the confederation. He installed the Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor), the chief of executive.
The Reichstag (although the confederation was called Bund) was the parliament, elected by all male north Germans above the age of 25. This was quite extraordinary in those times; Bismarck introduced this in the hope that it would create conservative majorities. Reichstag and council together had legislative powers, making the democratically elected Reichstag an important and powerful organ.
After the Franco-Prussian War
Franco-Prussian War
The Franco-Prussian War or Franco-German War, often referred to in France as the 1870 War was a conflict between the Second French Empire and the Kingdom of Prussia. Prussia was aided by the North German Confederation, of which it was a member, and the South German states of Baden, Württemberg and...
of 1870/1871, the south German states Baden, Bavaria and Württemberg joined the confederation. It was renamed Deutsches Reich (German Empire
German Empire
The German Empire refers to Germany during the "Second Reich" period from the unification of Germany and proclamation of Wilhelm I as German Emperor on 18 January 1871, to 1918, when it became a federal republic after defeat in World War I and the abdication of the Emperor, Wilhelm II.The German...
), and the constitution of the confederation, with little changes, became the Constitution of the German Empire
Constitution of the German Empire
The Constitution of the German Empire was the basic law of the German Empire of 1871-1919, enacted 16 April 1871. German historians often refer to it as Bismarck's imperial constitution....
.