Page:Statesman's Year-Book 1921.djvu/969

 917 GERMANY.

(pZtTT8CHBa Rf.1 On November 9, 1918, the abdication of the German Empercr was announced, and from that date Germany became a Republic.

(For the constitution of the Empire and its rulers, set Thk Statesman's Yrar-Book for 1918, pp. 831-6

Constitution and Government. The Council of People's Commissioners in Berlin took over the Govern- ment of the conntrj ; the reigning princes of the Federal States were either deposed or abdicated, the existing Imperial Parliament was declared dis- solved, and arrangements were made for summoning a National Assembly. The elections f >r the body (for which all Germans, men and women, over 20 years of age voted) were held in January, 1919, and resnlted, on the basis of proportional representation, in the return of the following parties : — Majority Socialists, 165 ; Centre (Catholic) Party, 90 ; Democrats Conservatives, 42 ; Independent Socialists, 22 ; German People's Party, 22 ; and minor parties, 7 : total, 428. The National Assembly was summoned to meet at Weimaron February6, and on February 11, 1919, it elected the first President of the Republic

President of the German Republic — Friedrich Ebert, born February 4,1871. The President receives a salary of 100,000 marks per annum, and an allowance of 100,000 marks. Future Presidents will be elected by the direct vote of all citizens, male and female, over 20 years of age. The election must be held either on Sunday or on a day of public rest. On Jnne 27, 1920, the following Cabinet was appoint- ' — Chancellor. — Constantin Fchrenbae},

c-Chaneellor and Minister of Justice. — Dr. Rudolf Heinv. "■ Minister for Foreijn Affairs. — Dr. Walter Simons. Minister for Home Affairs. — Erich Koch. Minister of Finance. — Dr. Joseph Wirth. Minister of D» fence. — Dr. Otto Gessler. Minister of Economies. — Dr. Ernst Scholx. Minister of Labour. — Dr. Heinrich Brauns. Minister of the Treasury. — Hans von Raumer. f Poati. — Johann Qiesi iter of Transport. — Wilhelm Groener. Minister for Food Supplies and Agriculture. — Dr. Andreas Hermes. The Constitution of the Republic was adopted on July 31, 1919, by the National Assembly at Weimar, and promulgated on August 11, 1919. It declares that the new Commonwealth is a Republic and that the nower of the State is derived from the people The colours of th? Republic are black, red and gold. The Constitution provides for Central and State Legislative organs ; makes foreign relations, defence, customs duties, taxa- tion and railway services matters for the central authority ; lays it down that every component State in the Federation must have a Republican Con- stitution, with a universal, equal, direct and secret franchise of male and female voters on the proportional system. An Imperial Council {Reichsrat) is to be formed for the representation of the component States {Lander). LAll Bills (Qesetzesvorlagen) before they are introduced into the Reichstag Sequire the assent of the Reichsrat the principle of the Referendum is irovided for in the Constitution. The Constitution further declares all Germans equal before the law, and abolishes all privileges or disadvantages f birth, class, or creed. Freedom of speech and of the Press is guaranteed ;