Chapter XVI: Section I: The Individual

ARTICLE 109.[35]

All Germans are equal before the law.

Men and women have, as citizens, fundamentally the same civil rights and duties.

Public privileges or disadvantages arising out of birth or rank shall be abolished. Titles of nobility count only as part of a name; they may no longer be conferred.

Only such titles may be conferred as indicate an office or a profession; academic rank is not hereby affected.

The State may confer no orders or insignia.

No German may accept titles or orders from a foreign State.[36]

ARTICLE 110.

Nationality of the Realm and of the Lands shall be acquired and lost as may be regulated by act of the Realm. Every national of a Land is at the same time a national of the Realm.

Every German has, in every Land, the same rights and duties as the nationals of that Land.

ARTICLE 111.

All Germans have the right of free movement throughout the Realm. Every German has the right of staying and of settling in any part of the Realm he please; he has the right of acquiring property there and of earning his livelihood. This may only be restricted by act of the Realm.

ARTICLE 112.

Every German may emigrate to a foreign country. Emigration may only be restricted by act of the Realm.

All nationals have the right to the protection of the Realm both within and without the Realm, as against a foreign country.

No German may be handed over to a foreign Government for prosecution or punishment.[37]

ARTICLE 113.

The foreign speaking parts of the Realm shall not be obstructed, either legislatively or administratively, in the free development of their ethnological characteristics, especially in the use of their mother tongue in educational establishments, in internal administration and in the administration of justice.

ARTICLE 114.

Liberty of the person is inviolable. Restrictions on, or deprivation of, personal liberty may not be imposed by the public authorities except in virtue of a law.

Persons who have been deprived of their liberty must be informed on the following day at latest by what authority and on what grounds this has been ordered; they must have immediate opportunity of lodging objections against such deprivation of liberty.

ARTICLE 115.

Every German is master in his own dwelling, which is inviolable. Exceptions are only admissible when the law so provides.

ARTICLE 116.

Acts are punishable only if they have been designated by law as punishable before they were committed.

ARTICLE 117.

The secrecy of the post, telegraph, and telephone service is inviolable. Exceptions are only admissible under act of the Realm.

ARTICLE 118.

Every German may express his opinion in speech, writing, print, pictorially, or by any other means, within the limits imposed by the law. He may not be obstructed in this right by any contract relating to his work or his employment; no disadvantage may be imposed on him by any person, should he make use of his right.

There is no censorship; nevertheless, restrictions may be laid down by law with regard to cinemas. Moreover, legislative action is admissible for the suppression of obscene or indecent literature, as well as for the protection of young persons at public performances or exhibitions.