Why did crisis come to the Weimar Republic

1
Why did crisis come to the Weimar Republic?

• Constitutional Problems
• Peace settlement problems
• Economic problems
• Political Problems

2
Constitutional weaknesses

• Proportional Representation
• Article 48

3
First Past the Post (GB today)

• The country is divided up into constituencies.
  Each has 1 MP. People vote for their Candidate
• E.g Burnley has 1 MP
• Pendle has 1 MP

4
First Past the Post (GB today)

• MPs are voted for by FPTP. i.e whoever has most
  votes wins
• E.G Lab 30
• Cons 29
• Lib Dems 21
• Greens 20
• 70 of votes do not count
• Unfair!!!!!

5
Proportional Representation (PR)

• The people vote for a political party NOT a
  person.
• E.G
• 10,000 people in Germany. Need over 50 of the
  votes to form a government.
• 100 seats in the Reichstag

6
Proportional Representation (PR)The Snack
Elections

• Choco 35,000 35 seats in Reichstag
• Fruit 10,000 10 seats
• Crisps 30,000 30 seats
• Biscuit 25,000 25 seats
• No Party has a majority of seats
• No Government can be formed

7
Coalition Governments

• In order for a government to be formed 2 PARTIES
  need to JOIN TOGETHER.
• BUT Coalition must make 51 seats
• THEN the President will appoint the leader of
  the largest party in the coalition

8
Coalition Governments

• Choco 35,000 35 seats in Reichstag
• Fruit 10,000 10 seats
• Crisps 30,000 30 seats
• Biscuit 25,000 25 seats
• CHOCO BISCUIT COALITION
• KIT-KAT Koalition

9
Coalition Governments

• BUT Coalition Governments are weak.
• When problems occur Coalitions BREAK UP
• Each party has its own ideas and supporters
• When this happens new elections are needed

10
Coalition Governments

• NEW Elections.
• Coalition governments are weak.
• Cant pass necessary laws and deal with
  problems.
• No strong leadership
• Seen as weak Government.
• Disliked

11
Article 48

• Says,
• In the event that public order and security are
  seriously disturbed or endangered, the Reich
  President may take the measures necessary for the
  restoration, intervening if necessary, with the
  aid of the armed forces.

12
Article 48

• Weak coalition Governments (Coalitions) cant
  deal effectively with Germanys problems.
• The door is open for a President to rule on his
  own

13
Article 48

• This will make the Weimar Republic and its
  constitution LOOK weak unable to deal with
  problems
• It will therefore be UNPOPULAR

14
Article 48

• It dismisses idea of everyone having a voice
• It dismisses the idea of Germany being a Democracy

15
Due to weak coalition Governments, Germanys
Presidents do use Article 48 to rule by decree
(on their own)