AF3b Interpretation and Significance AF2 Causation and Change Activity 2 : The strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic system of government. The Weimar Constitution was intended to be a very fair system of representing the German people. However, some Historians argue that it had key weaknesses that contributed to its instability. In this activity you will try to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution. You will be given a table. The first column contains description of different features of the Weimar Constitution. You will also be given a set of statements which suggest the strengths and weaknesses of each of these features. Features of Strengths Weaknesses Constitution The role of the Elected by the people every 7 The President had too much power President years with the power to appoint and might be tempted to make the Chancellor and the decisions based on their own interests government. Represented the rather than those of the views of the will of the people and reflected country. In the event of a crisis the the political balances of power in President may use these emergency the Reichstag. All adults over 20 powers to undermine the democratic could vote and participate in the political system which it was supposed political system and the laws to defend. would reflect their wishes. Proportional All political parties were given a It led to many small extremist political Representation fair share of the seats in the groups having influences eg the KPD Reichstag proportionate to their and NSDAP, many coalition national support and ensured all governments because no one party political views were considered. could get a majority in the Reichstag. Political parties supporting The coalition governments were often Weimar included SPD Socialists, weak and short lived because they Centre, Liberals DDP & DVP, could not agree to hide differences.
AF3b Interpretation and Significance AF2 Causation and Change Activity 2 : The strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Republic system of government. The Weimar Constitution was intended to be a very fair system of representing the German people. However, some Historians argue that it had key weaknesses that contributed to its instability. In this activity you will try to analyse the strengths and weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution. You will be given a table. The first column contains description of different features of the Weimar Constitution. You will also be given a set of statements which suggest the strengths and weaknesses of each of these features. Features of Constitution Strengths Weaknesses The role of the President Elected by the people every 7 years with the power to appoint the Chancellor and the government. Represented the will of the people and reflected the political balances of power in the Reichstag. All adults over 20 could vote and participate in the political system and the laws would reflect their wishes. The President had too much power and might be tempted to make decisions based on their own interests rather than those of the views of the country. In the event of a crisis the President may use these emergency powers to undermine the democratic political system which it was supposed to defend. Proportional Representation All political parties were given a fair share of the seats in the Reichstag proportionate to their national support and ensured all political views were considered. Political parties supporting Weimar included SPD Socialists, Centre, Liberals DDP & DVP, It led to many small extremist political groups having influences eg the KPD and NSDAP, many coalition governments because no one party could get a majority in the Reichstag. The coalition governments were often weak and short lived because they could not agree to hide differences.
germanykq1_1.docx