Importance and role of the Reichstag and the parties (OCR A-Level History A): Revision Notes
📚Revision Notes
Importance and role of the Reichstag and the parties
The members of the Reichstag were known to be the 'representatives of the people'. They were elected by males over 25 years of age every 3 years, but had limited powers. The Reichstag had no influence to appoint or dismiss the chancellor. Moreover, their legislative powers were shared with the Bundesrat. Meanwhile, the Bundesrat was composed of delegates from the 25 states, plus Alsace-Lorraine which became a special Reichsland.
In 1871, the Reichstag had 382 members. From the initial 3 years term of office, it was extended to 5 years in 1888.
The Reichstag in 1889.
Note
Delegates forming the Bundesrat were mostly traditional princes (kings, grand dukes, dukes and princes).
From 1871 until 1894, the Reichstag met at the Royal Porcelain Works in Leipziger Strasse. It was only in December 1894 that the new Reichstag building was opened. By 1894, there were 397 members of the Reichstag.
In theory, the Reichstag had the power to pass, amend and reject bills. However, these functions were never practised because the emperor exercised all through his chancellor.
During the first federal elections in 1871, the National Liberal Party gained 125 seats of 382 seats in the Reichstag. Other parties with significant seats included the Centre Party, Conservative Party, German Progress Party, German Reich Party, Imperial Liberal Party and the Polish Party.
Note
In addition to universal male suffrage, Bismarck also permitted the emergence of political parties.
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Seats in the 1871 Reichstag*
German parties 1871-9
The National Liberals
Mostly composed of middle-class Protestants, the National Liberals were Bismarck's allies until 1878. They supported parliamentary democracy and the creation of a nation-state.
Centre Party
Comprised of Catholics, the Centre Party became the second-largest party in the Reichstag in 1871. As a result of Bismarck's Kulturkampf, more Catholics supported the Centre Party. Despite the end of this cultural struggle in 1879, the party remained in opposition to Bismarck.
Social Democratic Party
In 1875, the Social Democratic Party was formed with the union of moderate and revolutionary socialists. They primarily aimed for the nationalisation of industries and the promotion of social equality.
German Conservative Party
Composed of Prussian Landowners or Junkers, the DkP was a right-wing political party who were first sceptical about the unification of Germany.
Free Conservatives
In 1871, the FKP turned into the German Reich Party which was dominated by industrialists who supported free trade and industrial development. In 1888, the party supported Wilhelm II's naval and colonial policies.