How Far Can the Weimar Constitution be Described as Creating an "Effective" Democracy

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How Far Can the Weimar Constitution be Described as Creating an “Effective” Democracy?

Clive Freedman Page  of

How Far Can the Weimar Constitution be Described as Creating an “Effective” Democracy?

     For the first time in the history of Germany, the state was a democratic republic. The constitution was something of a fragile experiment, a guinea pig. Theoretically speaking, the Weimar Constitution could be described as the most democratic constitution the world has ever laid eyes upon, in practice, things were not as clear.

      Germany was to be a “Federal State,” with each “Lander,” (state) retaining limited control over local affairs. This recognised local differences within Germany, with each Lander being represented in the Reichstrat. Effectively small states had as much influence as bigger states. This system allowed for the Reichstrat to be a microcosm of German society, with local diversity taken into account, which is of course extremely democratic, because all citizens no matter how remote had somebody representing their local needs.

     The Reichstag was extremely democratic because the German public elected members of the Reichstag. Universal suffrage for adults over the age of 20, meant that every body, had a vote, to decide who gained a seat. Politicians were accountable to the people, with regular elections, no longer than 4 years apart, giving people the opportunity to vote members out, which is democratic.  Proportional Representation meant that every party got the percentage of seats mirroring the percentage of the vote that they received, this means that the number of seats each party got directly reflected the views of the people and so directly democratic. Proportional Representation also allowed tiny parties to gain seats in parliament, as instead of the most popular party in each area gaining a seat, every party that had enough votes nationwide gained a seat. So even extremists could be represented, and thus extremists are given a say in the running of the country albeit limited to the size of the extremists. Democracy is rule by the people, which the Weimar Constitution included extremists within.

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     Plebescites were relatively common, which are effective referenda, giving the German public direct choice on an issue, thus being ultra democratic, with the German people being allowed to make decisions by themselves as opposed to simply having elected representatives making decisions on their behalf.

     The Bill of Rights was effectively made for German workers. Trade unions were instituted to organise a minimum wage. The consideration of workers, in a previously elite class system, reflects new democratic intentions, giving everybody an equal footing. For the first time in German history everybody had freedom of religion ...

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