What were two of the key weaknesses of the Weimar Constitution?

The Electoral System - Weimar's Constitution used an electoral system of pure proportional representation. This meant that a party got a percentage of the seats in the Reichstag that corresponded with its percentage of the vote share. In theory, this sounds like the most democratic way to operate a Parliament - which is what was wanted in the aftermath of World War One. However, this lead to lots of small radical parties gaining 2-3 MPs in the Reichstag, with no single party gaining a majority. This meant that the German government could not get anything done, but also allowed radical parties a foothold in the Reichstag.Article 48 - this said that, in an emergency, the president did not need the agreement of the Reichstag, but could issue decrees. The problem with this was that it did not say what an emergency was, and in the end, it turned out to be a back door that Hitler used to take power legally.

ED
Answered by Ethan D. History tutor

4162 Views

See similar History GCSE tutors

Related History GCSE answers

All answers ▸

Why did relations between the USA and the Soviet Union worsen in the years 1947–49? Explain your answer


What is the best way to structure an essay paragraph?


Describe the Little Rock Nine event and explain whether or not it was successful.


Describe why the Mormons were disliked. (1830s)


We're here to help

contact us iconContact ustelephone icon+44 (0) 203 773 6020
Facebook logoInstagram logoLinkedIn logo

MyTutor is part of the IXL family of brands:

© 2026 by IXL Learning