Chapter XVII: Section II: The Community

ARTICLE 119.

Marriage, as being the basis of family life and of the maintenance and growth of the nation, shall be under the special protection of the constitution. It rests on the equality of the two sexes.

The State and the local authorities shall undertake to perfect, purify and promote family life. Numerous families shall be protected proportionately.

Motherhood can claim protection and provision by the State.

ARTICLE 120.

The education of their offspring in physical, spiritual, and social efficiency is the supreme duty and natural right of the parents; the social State supervises such activities.

ARTICLE 121.

Legislation shall provide for illegitimate children the same opportunities for physical, spiritual, and social development as are provided for legitimate children.

ARTICLE 122.

Young persons shall be protected against exploitation and against moral, spiritual, and physical neglect. The necessary arrangements shall be instituted by the State and municipalities.

Protective provisions of a compulsory character can only be imposed by law.

ARTICLE 123.

All Germans are entitled to meet together, peaceably and unarmed, without previous notice or special permission.

An act of the Realm may require notification of open-air meetings, and, where there is direct danger to public security, may forbid them.

ARTICLE 124.

All Germans are entitled to form associations or unions for purposes which are not in contravention of the penal law. This right may not be restricted by preventive measures. The same holds good for religious unions and associations.[38]

Every association may acquire corporate rights in accordance with the provisions of the Civil Code. Corporate rights may not be refused to any association on the ground that its aims are of a political, social, political, or religious nature.

ARTICLE 125.

The liberty and secrecy of the ballot are guaranteed. An electoral law shall make further provision.

ARTICLE 126.

Every German may address a written petition or complaint to the competent authority or the people's representatives. This right may be exercised both by the individual or by several persons in common.

ARTICLE 127.

Local authorities and associations of local authorities have the right to administer their own affairs within the limits laid down by the law.

ARTICLE 128.

All citizens without exception are eligible for public office as provided by the law, and in proportion to their suitability and services.

All exceptional measures against women officials are abolished.

An act of the Realm shall regulate the Civil Service.

ARTICLE 129.

Officials shall be appointed for life, except as may be otherwise provided by law. Pensions and the pensions of dependants shall be regulated by law. Rights duly acquired by officials are inviolable. Officials may have legal remedy for recovering financial claims.

Officials shall not be dismissed, nor provisionally or permanently pensioned, nor transferred to another office with less salary, except under provisions and procedure established by law.

Every official penalty must be subject to appeal and revision. Unfavourable entries may not be made in the personal record of any official unless he has had opportunity to reply to them. Officials have the right to examine their record.

The inviolability of duly acquired rights and the right to have recourse to legal process for the recovery of financial claims are especially guaranteed to professional soldiers. In all other respects their position shall be regulated by an award of the Realm.

ARTICLE 130.

Officials are servants of the community, not of a party.

Freedom of political opinion and freedom of meeting shall be secured to all officials.

Legislation of the Realm shall provide officials with special civil service representation.

ARTICLE 131.

Should an official, in exercising his public authority, be guilty of a breach of his official duty towards a third party, responsibility therefor shall fundamentally attach to the State of the Body employing such official. They may reserve the right of retributory action against the official. Recourse to an ordinary court of law must not be excluded.

The competent legislature shall provide for that.

ARTICLE 132.

Every German is bound to undertake honorary duties in accordance with the law.

ARTICLE 133.

Every German is bound to give personal service on behalf of the State or the local authority in accordance with the law.

Military service shall be as provided in the Law of National Defence of the Realm. The same law shall determine how far any fundamental citizen's rights shall be restricted for those on military service in the interests of their duties and of discipline.

ARTICLE 134.

All citizens without exception shall contribute proportionately to their means to all public burdens in accordance with the law.