The Wheeling intelligencer. [volume] (Wheeling, W. Va.) 1903-1961, 1919-08-18
NEW CONSTITUTION Of THE
GERMAN EMPIRE REPUBLIC

BERLIN. Friday. Aug. l5.-Thc now
German constitution. which was passed
by tho national assembly after months
of debate and which became effective"
this week. is divided into TWO main
parts-thc composition and tics of the
empire" and the basic rights and basic
duties of Germany" The first part con-
sists of seven sections and III" second OF
five.
Tho subdivisions Of tho first part are:
The cmpir" and individual states; tn"
Rcichstag: the imp"rIaI president: inn
pcrIal government. imperial council, I'M
pCrial Legislation and imperial admins
tration Of Justice. Those If the second
part are: Individual community of l!fe:
religion and religious societies; Cduca-
tion and schools. and economic life. The
concluding part Of the constitution bears
the title. "Transitiun Relations"
The prcamhl" to the constitution DO
gins as follows:
The German people. united in its
branches and inspired by III" will 10 e.
new and strengthen its empire in FREQ
dom and justice. TO further this consti-
tuition
Section one declares the German en-
pirc is II republican state. sovereignty
being based on the people. 1t describes
tn" territorial limits of the empire. cs-
tahiiShCS III" imperial ColOrS as being
! black. red and gold. and states that the
generally recognized rules Of Internal
lional law vii he held ms binding on the
empire. The empire will haV' exclusive
Legislative rights governing foreign af-
fairs colonies. citizenship. Immigration.
defense. coinage. customs. posts. tcl"-
graphs and nuc distance telephones. r"-
population. motherhood, children. youth
health. labor insurance. protection to
lahorcrS and employees. COnflsCatiun. caro-
"f wounded soldiers and their relatives.
Specialization Of natural resources. "c"-
monte undertakings. manufaCtur". dis
tribution. pric" fixing. economic produc-
ton. trade weights and measures. tn"
issuance of paper money. food luxury.
articles in industry. mi-IcS. insurance
tho mcrcantil" marine. control Of lake
and coast fisheries, railroads. autono-
hi" traffic. transportation by land. water
and air road construction and theatres.
Individual states Will have Legislative"
rights. hut tho imperial law Will super
scd" those Of individual states. Each
state must have a liberal constitution
with legislature elected by general
equal and secret ballot by NIL Germans,
men and women.
Tho constitution lays down rules for
altering tn" empire tCrrItUrIallY. pruvid-
ing that Ilch:scitcs shall be held in
districts affected.
Th" R"iChs'aE suHrrscdcS III" tempo
rary national assembly. II will b" elect
cd for "A term Of four years. Tho nrCsi-
dent will h" chosen by IN" entire Ger
man people irst"ad Of by the assembly.
and Will hold office for Il term IF seven
years. He Will represent IN" empire I'M
der intrrnHiiO nal law. Will make treaties
and aCrrcdit diplomats. Declarations Of
war or peace must hr proclaimed by tn"
imperial R"iohStaE. and treaties with
foreign states must he accepted by tho
E"ichsiar. M president. as command
or "f tn" chief defense forces "f tn" en-
pre-. ran employ armed forces for 0ucll-
!n, Disturbances or may send them
against states which do not fulfill their
duties. but in doing SO must notify the
E"iChStag. which is given tho power Of
v"t" TIL" pres dents orders must he
c"untcrsiCncd by a chancellor or the
imn"rial minister who's" department is
affected. lie has tn" right to pardon
criminals. but III" granting Of amnesty
must j." voted by The RciChstaE.
The chancellor will occupy a position
Analogous To that OF vic" president. H2
and tn" rest Of the ministry will b" ap-
pointed by tn" president. Tho chanr"l.
Tor will determine the empires foreign