The Oklahoma City times. [volume] (Oklahoma City, Okla.) 1908-1984, 1919-08-18

BERLIN. Aug. ls.-(Friday)- The
new German constitution which was
passed by the national assembly at
ter months of debate and which be
came effective this week, Is divided
into two main parts-the composition
and ties of the empire" and "the ba
sic rights and basic duties OF Ger
mans" The first part consists Of
seven sections and the second OF five
The subdivisions OF the frs, part
are: The empire and individual states /;
the rcichstag; the imperial president; {;
imperial government imperial coun-
Gil; imperial legislation and imperial
administration OF justice. Those OF
the second part are; Individual com
munity of life; religion and religious
societies; education and schools and
economic lie. The concluding part
of the constitution bears the title
transition relations"
The People to Rule.
The preamble follows:
The German people united in
It's branches and inspired by the
will TO renew and strengthen its
empire in freedom and Justice.
to further inner and outer peace
and social advance has voted this
constitution
Section One declares the German
empire is republican state, soyer-
eignty being based on the people
II describes the territorial limits Of
the empire. establishes the imperial
colors as being black. rcd and gold
and states that the generally-recog
nized rules ci International law will
be held as binding on the empire. The
cnpne Will have exclusive legislative
rights governing foreign affairs,
colonies, citizenship immigration, de-
tense. coinage, customs. posts, tele-
graphs and long distance telenhHes
rc-populatlon, motherhood. children,
youth, health, labor. insurance. pro-
lection to laborerS and employees. con
tscatlon, care OF wounded soldiers
and their relatives, socializa,ion of |
national resources, economic under |
takmgs, manufacture. distribution,
price fixing, economic production.
trade weights and measures the is
suance OF paper money, food, luxury,
articles OF industry, mines. insurance.
the mercantile marine control of lake
and coast fisheries, railroads, auto
noble traffic, transportation by land
water and 5air, road construction and
'heaters. q
Nation Above States.
Individual states will have leoisla-
tive rights but the imperial law will |
Supersedc those of individual states |
Each state must have a liberal CON
s'itution with legislature elected hy |
general, equal and sccre, ballot, by |
all Germans, men and women.
The constitution lays down rules
for altering the empire terri,orially.
providing that plebiscites shall be held
in districts affected.
Seven Years Term.
The rcichStag supersedcs the tenn
porary national assembly 1t will be
elected Tor term OF four years. The
president will be chosen by the en-
tire German people instead OF by the
assembly and will hold office for A
term oi seven years. He viii repre-
sent the empire under international
law. will make treaties and accredit
diplomats. Declaration of war or
peace must be proclaimed by the i'm
perial reichstag and treatie. with
foreign states must be accepted BY
the reichstag, The president as com
mander OF the chief defense force, Of
the empire, can employ armed forces
for quelling disturbances or may send
them against states which do not full
fill their duties bur, in doing 50 mus,
notify the reichstag which is given
the power TO veto. The presidents
orders must be counterSjgned bv a