Evening star., 1919-08-18
HUN CONSTITUTION
CURBs THE STATES
Imperial Law Supreme.
Chancellor Names Cabinet,
Frames Foreign Policy.
REICHSTAG RULING BODY

1 By the Associated Press.
BERLIN. Friday; August 15.-The
new German constitution which was
passed by the national assembly aft
er months of debate and which be-
came effective this week. is divided
into two main parts-the compost
ton and ties of the empire" and "the
basic rights and basic duties Of Ger
mans
Has Twelve Sections.
The first part consists 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; imperial government; i'm
perial council; imperial legislation
and imperial administration of JUS
tice. Those of the second part are:
Individual community of life; religion
and religious societies. education and
schools and romanic life. The con-
Guiding part of the constitution bears
the title: Transition Relations"
The preamble to the constitution
begins as follows:
THE German people. united in its
branches and inspired by the will to
renew and strengthen it's empire in
freedom and Justice. to further inner
and outer peace and social advance,
has voted this constitution
Called Republican State.
Section one declares the German
empire is republican state, SOW
ereignty being based on the people.
1t describes the territorial limits of
the empire. establishes the imperial
colors as being black, red and gold
and states that the generally recog-
nized rules of international law will
be held as binding on the empire
The empire will have exclusive
legislative rights governing foreign
affairs, colonies. citizenship, immigra-
tion, defense. coinage. customs, posts,
telegraphs and ng-distance tele-
phones, repopulation, motherhood,
children. youth. health. labor insur-
ance, protection to laborers and en-
ployes, confiscation, care of wounded
soldiers and their relatives, social
ization of national resources. eco
a1miG d;s, ,; UNDERTAKINGS; manufacture.
production. trade weights and meas
ures. the issuance of paper money,
food. luxury, articles of industry,
mines, insurance. the mercantile ma
rine, control Of lake and coast fish,
cries. railroad. automobile traffic.
II.
road construction and theaters
> Imperial Law Rules.
Individual states will have Iegisla-
tive rights, but the imperial law will
supercede those Of individual states.
Each state must have a liberal con-
stitutfon, with a legislature elected
by general, equal and secret ballot
by all Germans, men and women.
The constitution lays down rules for
altering the empire territorially pro-
viding that plebiscites shall be held
in districts affected.
Reichstag Replaces Assembly.
The reichstag supersedes the tenn
porary national assembly. It will be
elected for q 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 a term
OF seven years. He will represent the
empire under international law, will
make. treaties and accredit diplomats.
Declarations of war of peace must be
proclaimed by the imperial reichstag
and treaties with foreign states must
be accepted by the .reichstaK. t
The president, as commander Of the
chief defense forces Of the empire,
can employ armed forces for quellinE
disturbances. or may send them
their duties. but in doing SO must
notify the refchstag. which is given
the power Of veto. The presidents or
ders must be countersigned by a
chancellor or the imperial minister
whose department is affected He
mas the right to pardon criminals. but
the granting of amnesty must be
voted by the reichstag.
Chancellor Man of Power.
The chancellor will occupy a posi-
dent. He and the rest of the min
istry will be appointed by the presi-
dent. The chancellor will determine
the empires foreign policy. bear re-
sponsibility for the cabinet and in
case OF tie vote in the ministry
will have the deciding ballot.
The reichstag is given the right to
impeach the president, chancellor and
ministers. Charges upon which inn
peachment proceedings are based
must bear the names of 100 members
of the reichstag before the case can
be brought before the court.
The imperial council will be COM
posed Of representatives of indf-
vidual states, which will have at
| least one vote apiece. The votes of
the larger states will be based on
population. being fixed on the num-
Der of millions of Inhabitants within
| their borders. No state can have
| more than two-hfths Of the total
| number of votes in the council. Half
| OF Prussia's votes must come from
provincial administrations. Imperial
legislation cannot be introduced in
the reichstag without the consent Of
| the council unless the government
ventures to introduce bills which the
reichstag knows to be disapproved by
the council.
Laws by Plebiscite.