German Government

Kaiser

Powers of the Kaiser

1.King of Prussia

2. Could Appoint and Dismiss the Chancellor

3. Could dissolve the Reichstag

4.Controlled Foreign Policy

5.Could make Treaties and Alliances

6.Commanded the Army

7. Could declare war and make peace

8. Supervised the execution of all Federal Laws

9. Possessed the right to interpret the Constitution

Powers of The Reichstag

1. The National Parliament

2. Elected by all males over 25

3. Operated as a consenting Chamber; could accept or reject legislation but power to initiate new lawas was negligible

4. State Secretaries, responsible for government ministries were excluded from membership of Reichstag

5. Members were not paid

6. Could approve or reject the budget