Chapter II: Foreword: v

CHAPTER I

THE ORIGINS

SECTION 1

THE REVOLUTION

The Constitution of April 16, 1871, and the reforms of
October, 1918 1

The fall of the old régime 12

The republic of councils 16

SECTION 2

THE NATIONAL CONSTITUENT ASSEMBLY

The composition of the Assembly 24

The Provisional Constitution of February 10, 1919 28

The adoption of the Constitution and supplementary laws 35

CHAPTER II

TOWARD A UNIFIED STATE

SECTION 1

TERRITORIAL STATUS OF THE STATES

The problem of the dismemberment of Prussia 43

Modifications of the territories of states 53

The creation of a state--Thuringia 57

SECTION 2

DIVISION OF POWER BETWEEN THE REICH AND THE STATES

The constitution of the states 59

The legislative power of the _Reich_ 61

(1) Fundamental limits of power 61

(2) Supremacy of national over state laws 65

Administrative services of the government 65

Justice and the High Court 68

SECTION 3

JURIDICAL AND POLITICAL STRUCTURE OF THE REICH

Is the _Reich_ a federal state? 69

Prussia and the _Reich_ 72

CHAPTER III

THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE

SECTION 1

THE PRINCIPLE

The power of the state is derived from the people 75

The system of councils, or the dictatorship of the proletariat 77

The Chamber of Labour, or the Vocational Parliament 82

The Political Activity of the Unions 91

SECTION 2

THE APPLICATIONS

The republic 98

Universal suffrage, the political parties and the electoral
law 100

General principles 103

The electorate and eligibility 109

Preparations for elections 112

Distribution of seats 113

The actual working of the law 115

Direct government 118

CHAPTER IV

PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT

SECTION 1

THE REICHSTAG

Privileges and guarantees accorded to the Reichstag 131

The rules of the Reichstag 135

The duration of the powers of the Reichstag 137

Powers of the Reichstag 138
1. Powers of the Reichstag, as principal holder of sovereignty 138
2. Legislative powers; how laws are proposed and passed 139
3. Power of control; interpellations and committees 147

SECTION 2

THE PRESIDENT OF THE REICH

The need for a strong president 153

The election of the President and the length of his term 156

The powers of the President 162

The responsibility of the President 168