Der Deutsche correspondent. [volume] (Baltimore, Md.) 1841-1918, 1915-01-19

How The German Government Works.

The German government is thus
composed of the Bundesrath (literal-
ly, council of the union) correspond
ing to body of governor-ambassa-
dors in the suppositiOn just cited,
tho Reichstag (literally, empire-day
or meeting day. which corresponds
to our lower house of Congress, and
the president Of the bund, or the
German Kaiser.
The Bundesrath is the most i'm
| portant, in fact, the decisive element
OF the government. 1t consists of
SO members. II being Prussian.
Bayarian, 4 Saxon, and 4 Wuerttom-
bergers, the rest being from other
kingdoms and state-cities in lesser
numbers.
The Bundesrath sits in legisla-
tive sense continuously and, with
the Kaiser, has power to dissolve or
terminate the Reichstag, which is
composed of 397 members. at any
time during its term of five years,
in which case a new Reichstag must
be elected within GO days and con-
vened within so days for u new term
OF five years
The Reichstag is elected over the
Empire generally. The members are
elected by districts but are not re-
sponsible to the instructions of their
constituents but vote freely in the
interests Of the whole people.
The members Of the Bundesrath
however, are strictly responsible to
their particular kingdoms and
States and vote in accordance with
the views OF their particular mon
arches. II is as if Congress in the
United States were elected without
reference to State lines and the Sen
ators were not two for each State but
roughly in proportion to tho popula-
tion OF the States and always acting
under instructions.
When law is to be passed it may
originate either in the Bundesrath or
In the lower house, and either may
amend. When they agree, it be-
comes a law without the necessity Of
being approved by the Kaiser and is
not subject to any power of veto on
his part, such as the President of
the United States is entitled to eXer-
else
As a matter Of routine he signs
it, sees that it is technically in the
proper form, and has it published,
but he must do this in any event, so
that he may be said in this respect,
to be nothing moro than the rubber
stamp of the German Empire.
In other respects he has more pow
er. Like the President Of the Uni
ted States, he is commander-in-chief
of the army and navy He also aD-
points the Imperial Chancellor
Here comes in another Of the re-
markable features Of the German
government, for the Imperial Chan
cellor. who is the presiding officer
of the Bundesrath OF which the Kai-
ser is the president. represents Ger
man policy and has under him as
subordinates all the heads OF de-
partments who correspond in other
countries to cabinet ministers. He
is q cabinet with its powers unified
in one member. When the Imperial
Chancellor Resigns it indicates q
break between the Kaier and the leg
islature, that is, if he resigns from
lack of q vote of confidence on the
part of the Bundesrath
To Americans the significance of
this does not appear very great, ae
the members Of the Presidents cabi-
net are not particularly important
politically, being generally personal
friends and advisers of the President.
In England and France, however,
where the legislative bodies are
composed of q number Of political
parties and not of two large parties
as with us, the King of England OF
the President of France appoints a
group of men as q cabinet, and must
so mako his selections, that the
group of men he selects Will have
the confidence of the legislative
branch. Such a cabinet is the real
seat OF government. If at any time
il proposes a measure which is de-
I feated in the legislature it must re-
sign or the legislative body must be
dissolved by the king q new election
held to find out II the public sup
ports the cabinet or the legislature.
In a country with a cabinet, the
cabinet must always represent the
will of tho people This il does,
roughly speaking The American
cabinet represents nothing but the
Presidents personal selection of
head clerks or free-advice givers,
and even then only those Of the par
ty at the moment IN power The for
! eign cabinet system thus reflects
much more effectually the will of
the people than does the American
system, which can only reflect the
Will or the people at intervals OF
two years and then all issues must
be Jumped in the platforms of the
two great parties so that on any but
the most important issues, the viii
of the people is never expressed.
What We Can Learn from the
German Method.
The American form OF govern
ment. although based on the most
altruistic Of principles. is an ex-
tremely defective form in execution.
and one through which the will of
the peope can be expressed only after
much delay and never with the prop
or precision and effect
The cabinet system of England is
much better, for the King is only
hgure-head. a royal rubber stamp,
and the cabinet must represent
more acutely the will Of the people
l.. H..