History revision – The establishment of democracy – 1949 – 63 (17)
- Adenauer became the first chancellor of the FRG aged 73
- He reluctantly gave up office in 1963 aged 87
- He is considered to be the ‘founding father’ of W Gr democracy
- Was the individual to whom W Gr’s attributed their country’s rapid political and moral
re-birth
The constitution
- The Basic Law which came into force on 23rd May 1949 established the FRG as a
federal, parliamentary democracy
- Was based on four key principles
o The rule of law
o Democratic participation of all
o Federalism
o Social welfare
- Operated through a bi-cameral parliament:
o Lower house – Bundestag
Elected every four years through universal suffrage
50% of its members were directly elected
50% chosen through party lists
Parties needed to win over 5% of the vote to gain representation
o Upper house – Bundesrat
Made up of representatives of each state/ land
Had the power to approve and veto legislation
- The President of the Republic was a largely ceremonial head of state elected by
Bundestag members and representatives of each land parliament
- The Chancellor was the head of government and was elected by the Bundestag
- The Chancellor could only be removed from office by a constructive vote of no
confidence in the Bundestag
- The Federal Constitutional Court was designed to protect the constitution and had
powers to settle disputes between the Federal government and Land governments
- The Basic Law also set out the essential values of the state
- Guaranteed freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement and
included a statement identifying the fundamental basic rights of each Gr
- The Basic Law also committed the FRG to work to re-establish a united Gr
- Moreover, it guaranteed W Gr citizenship for all people of Gr descent, which provided
a great incentive for E Gr’s to flee the Com GDR
- Adenauer became the first chancellor of the FRG aged 73
- He reluctantly gave up office in 1963 aged 87
- He is considered to be the ‘founding father’ of W Gr democracy
- Was the individual to whom W Gr’s attributed their country’s rapid political and moral
re-birth
The constitution
- The Basic Law which came into force on 23rd May 1949 established the FRG as a
federal, parliamentary democracy
- Was based on four key principles
o The rule of law
o Democratic participation of all
o Federalism
o Social welfare
- Operated through a bi-cameral parliament:
o Lower house – Bundestag
Elected every four years through universal suffrage
50% of its members were directly elected
50% chosen through party lists
Parties needed to win over 5% of the vote to gain representation
o Upper house – Bundesrat
Made up of representatives of each state/ land
Had the power to approve and veto legislation
- The President of the Republic was a largely ceremonial head of state elected by
Bundestag members and representatives of each land parliament
- The Chancellor was the head of government and was elected by the Bundestag
- The Chancellor could only be removed from office by a constructive vote of no
confidence in the Bundestag
- The Federal Constitutional Court was designed to protect the constitution and had
powers to settle disputes between the Federal government and Land governments
- The Basic Law also set out the essential values of the state
- Guaranteed freedom of expression, assembly, association and movement and
included a statement identifying the fundamental basic rights of each Gr
- The Basic Law also committed the FRG to work to re-establish a united Gr
- Moreover, it guaranteed W Gr citizenship for all people of Gr descent, which provided
a great incentive for E Gr’s to flee the Com GDR
