Permanent historical factsheet

Constitution of Germany

Germany · Government / Reich, 2nd. Chronological records rendered directly from the World History Database.

20Records
1871–1882Date range
2Named people
1Places

Chronological records

1871

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

A National Government, Reichstag, is elected by all males over 25 by secret ballot

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

Bismarck's intention is to create a constitutional facade which would mask the continuation of authoritarian policies

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

Executive power is vested in the Kaiser who is assisted by a Chancellor responsible only to him

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

Legislation requires the consent of the Bundesrat, the federal council of deputies

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

Most of the German Empire is formed of Prussian-led Protestant states of the former North German Confederation

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

Prussia uses a restrictive three-class voting system in which the richest third of the population can choose 85 percent of the legislature, assuring a conservative majority

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

The 1866 North German Constitution becomes the 1871 Constitution of the German Empire

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

The Chancellor is a one-man cabinet responsible for all state affairs while State Secretaries (officials in charge of fields as finance, war, foreign affairs, etc.) act as unofficial portfolio ministers

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

The Chancellor is always the Prime Minister of Prussia

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

The Chancellor serves the Emperor's first minister and as presiding officer of the Bundesrat, the upper chamber of the German Parliament appointed by the Emperor

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

The Reichstag has the power to pass, amend or reject bills but only the Chancellor can initiate legislation

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1871

Government / Reich, 2nd

The unified Germany under Chancellor Otto von Bismarck is called Deutsches Reich, the official name of Germany until 1945

1872

Adalbert FalkMay 1872

Government / Reich, 2nd

The estate of the Church was confiscated, monastic orders dissolved, and the paragraphs of the Prussian constitution assuring the freedom of the Catholics is removed

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1872

Government / Reich, 2nd

The estate of the Church was confiscated, monastic orders dissolved, and the paragraphs of the Prussian constitution assuring the freedom of the Catholics is removed

1873

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen22 October 1873

Government / Reich, 2nd

The office of Minister President of Prussia is temporarily separated from that of Chancellor, when Albrecht von Roon is appointed to the former office, but by the end of the year, Roon resigned due to ill health, and Bismarck becomes PM

1875

Adalbert FalkMay 1875

Government / Reich, 2nd

The Congregations Law of 1875 abolishes religious orders, stops state subsidies to the Catholic Church, and removes religious protections from the Prussian constitution

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen1875

Government / Reich, 2nd

The Congregations Law of 1875 abolishes religious orders, stops state subsidies to the Catholic Church, and removes religious protections from the Prussian constitution

1882

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen4 January 1882

Berlin · Government / Reich, 2nd

Passes a Royal Edict proclaiming the Emperors responsibility for Government policy

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen24 January 1882

Berlin · Government / Reich, 2nd

Informs the Landtag that the First Minister will be the servant of the King-Emperor

Otto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-SchonhausenJanuary 1882

Berlin · Government / Reich, 2nd

Says the Emperor is the real Minister President of Prussia

Names involved

Adalbert FalkOtto Eduard Leopold Furst von Bismarck-Schonhausen

Provenance

This factsheet is generated from stored World History Database records matching the country, broad category, detailed category and exact Event value shown above. Duplicate display records are collapsed; database wording is otherwise preserved. Source provenance varies by record, so formal academic citation should be checked against the relevant primary source, archive or specialist historical reference.