read the
Constitution of the Kaiserreich
written by Bismarckread And answer 10 question
1. Identify the provisions of the constitution that seem to embody the spirit of democracy (“one man, one vote”)associated with the late 19th century:
2. What are the responsibilities of the Reichstag under the constitution? Is it powerful? Why or why not?
3. What are the responsibilities of the Kaiser under the constitution? Is he powerful? Why or why not?
4. How does the Bundesrat, the upper chamber, appear to contrast with the Reichstag, the lower chamber, in terms of representation, composition of members, and responsibilities? Which states appear to have a largeramount of influence and why (focus on Prussia specifically)?
5. How are the chancellor, other “Reich” officials underneathhim, diplomats and upper-level military officers appointed? What does this mean about the potential influence of the Kaiser?
6. Is there any component, or components that seem to be missing from the document that seems to be missing?
7. How does the constitution balance state versus federal or national responsibilities of government? Which side appears to have more influence under this system and why?
8. The Imperial Constitution is often described as a document that includes structural flaws that could be exploited by traditional elites looking to retain influence and power (specifically the Junker class and military officers). Based upon your reading of the document, what do you believe was flawed about the constitution along these lines and why?
9. Make a judgment about what kind of system of government this is. Specifically, what elements are monarchical and absolutist in nature? What elements seem to point to the preservation of power by traditional elites? What elements seem to point to point in the direction of democracy and parliamentary government? Which of these elements seem to be most important?