Weimar Constitution
The Constitution of the German Reich (German: Die Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs), usually known as the Weimar Constitution (Weimarer Verfassung), was the constitution that governed Germany during the Weimar Republic era (1919–1933). The constitution declared Germany to be a democratic parliamentary republic with a legislature elected under proportional representation. Universal suffrage was established, with a minimum voting age of 20. The constitution technically remained in effect throughout the Nazi era from 1933 to 1945, though practically it had been repealed by the Enabling Act of 1933 and thus its various provisions and protections went unenforced for the duration of Nazi rule.
Constitution of the German Reich | |
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![]() The Weimar Constitution in booklet form. The constitution itself required that it be provided to school children at the time of their graduation. | |
Overview | |
Original title | Die Verfassung des Deutschen Reichs |
Jurisdiction | Weimar Republic (1919–1933) Nazi Germany (1933–1945, de jure only) |
Ratified | 11 August 1919 |
Date effective | 14 August 1919 |
System | Federal semi-presidential republic (1919–1930) Federal authoritarian presidential republic (1930–1933) Unitary Nazi one-party fascist totalitarian dictatorship (1933–1945) |
Head of state | President Führer (1933–1945) |
Chambers | Upper House: Reichsrat (until 1934) Lower House: Reichstag |
Executive | Chancellor |
Judiciary | Reichsgericht |
Federalism | Yes (disregarded in 1933) |
Full text | |
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The constitution's title was the same as the Constitution of the German Empire that preceded it. The German state's official name was Deutsches Reich until the adoption of the 1949 Basic Law.