The sun. [volume] (New York [N.Y.]) 1916-1920, 1919-08-18
TEUTONS READY FOR
NEW CONSTITUTION
National Laws Effective This
Week Give People Free
Speech and Beliefs.
BUDGET SYSTEM DECREED
Reichstag Succeeds Assembly
. Powers of President
and Chancellor.


German constitution which was passed
by the National Assembly after months
Of debate and which became effective
this week is divided into two main
parasitic composition and ties Of the
empire" and "the basic rights and basic
duties OF Germans" The first part con-
slsts Of seven sections and the second OF
five. ~
The subdivisions OF the first part are
The Empire and Individual states, the
Reichstag. the Imperial President I'M
perial Government, Imperial Council,
imperial legislation and imperial ad-
ministration of justice. Those OF the
second part are: Individual community
Of life, religion and religious societies
education and schools and economic Ire.
The concluding part OF the oonstltuuon
bears the title, Transition Relations.
The preamble to the constitution be-
gins as follows:
"The German people, united in It's
branches and inspired by the will to re-
new and strengthen its Empire in free-
dom and Justice, to further inner ana
cutter peace and social advance, mas
voted this constitution"
Section one declares the German EN-
pire is a republican State. sovereignty
the territorial limits OF the Empire. es-
fablishes the imperial colors as being
black, red and gold, and states that the
generally recognized rules OF. inter-
national law will be held as binding on
the Empire. The Empire will have ex-
elusive legislative rights governing Tor
eien affairs. colonies, citizenship, immh-
grafton, defence, coinage. customs. posts
telegraphs and long distance telephones
bor Insurance, youth. health, protection
10 laborers and employees. confscation'
caro- of wounded soldiers and their rela-
lives. specialization OF national resources
economic undertakings, manufacture ois-
trfbution. price liking. economic produc-
tion. trade weights and measures, the Is
suance of paper money, food, luxury ar
ticles of industry. mines. Insurance the
mercantile marine, control OF lake ana
cos q fisheries. railroads, automobile traf-
fic transportation by land. water and
All. road construction and theatres.
Rights of states.
fndiyidr~l States will have Legislative
rights, but the Imperial law VIII
supersede those of individpal states
Each state must have liberal consul
tuition, with legislature elected py
reneral. equal and secret ballot by all
Germans, men and women
The constitution lays down rules for
altering the Empire territorially, pro
yjdinr that plebiscites shall be held IN
districts affected.
The Reichstag supersedes the temper
ary National Assembly. 1t will be
elected for term Of four years. The
President will be chosen by the entire
German people instead of by the As
sembly and will hold office for term
Of seven years He viii represent the
Empire under international law. Will
make treaties and accredit diplomats.
Declarations Of war or peace must be
proclaimed by the Imperial Reichstas.
and treaties with foreign states must be
accepted by the Reichstag.
The President, as commander OF the
chief defense forceg Of the Empire. can
employ armed forces for quelling dis
tuybances, or may send them against
states which do not fulfill their duties,
but IN doing 80 must notify the Reichs-
tag, which is given the power OF veto.
The Presidents orders must be counter
aligned by a chancellor or the Imperial
minister whose department Is affected.
He has the right to pardon criminals.
but the. granting of amnesty must be
voted by the Reichstag.
The chancellor will occupy a position
analogous to that of vice-president. He
and the rest of the Ministry Will be
appointed by the President The chan
ceilor will determine the Empires
foreign policy, bear responsibility for the
Cabinet and in case of tie vote in
the Ministry, will have the deciding
ballot The Reichstag IL given the
rie4t 70 iInpeach the President, chancel-
Tor and minister's Charges upon which
impeachment proceedings are based
must bear the names Of 100 members
Of the Reichstag before tho case can
BE- brought before the court.
The Imperial Council.
The Imperial Council will be composed
Of representatives Of Individual States
which will have at least one vote apiece.
The votes of the larger States will be
based on population. being fixed en- the
number of millions OF inhabitants within
their borders. No State can have moro
than two-ffths Of the total number of
votes in the Council. Half of Prussia s
votes must come from provincial ad-
manifestations
Imperial legislation cannot be intro
duced in the Reichstag without the con-
sent of the Council unless the Govern
fnent ventures to Introduce bills which
the Reichstag knows to be disapproved
by the Council. Laws may be submitted
BY plebiscites II the President desires.
A majority vote will nullify the law.
The constitution can be altered by a
quorum of two-thirds OF the Reichstag
voting for the alteration by a two-thirds
majority.
The imperial administration is placed
IN control of treaties by individual
States with foreign countri-s. territorial
changes and defence of the realm Ger
man merchant vessels will comprise a
unified mercantile marine. The new
German frontier comprises customs
zones, the income from which will be
administered by the Empire
Provision Is made for a budget sys-
tenn. and the Reichstag cannot raise the
amount OF the budget without reaching
an agreement with the Council. I'm
perial postal and telegraphic rates will
be determined by the Council, and the
railroad systems will be taken over by
tho Empire and States. Private roads
must be given over to the Empire or
demand. and the Empire can confiscate
railroads not yet taken over In case
the defence Of the country requires the
step, 1t Is given the power to take over
the administration Of all water routes.
Life Tenure for Judges.
Judges of the ordinary civil court,
viii be chosen for life and cannot b,
removed except by judicial ldecision
The ago of retirement will be de.
tsrmined later. Military courts ar,
abolished, save In war times and or
board warships, and State courts wbfcI
will try those accused OF political crina,
will be created by imperial law
The second main part provides thai