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62-729: Under the Constitution of East Germany , the Council of Ministers was formally defined as the government of East Germany. The same Constitution, however, officially confirmed the leading role of the Socialist Unity Party (SED). Hence, for most of the GDR's existence, the Council of Ministers was not the highest authority in the country, but was charged with implementing the SED's policies into practical administration. In particular, ministers were subordinate to

124-527: A "socialist state of the German nation". Under the old constitution, power derived from "the people", while Article 2 of the new Constitution stated that power emanated from "the worker in city and country". Significant changes introduced into the 1968 document included: The 1968 document effectively codified the actual state of affairs that had prevailed in the GDR for two decades. It was one of Ulbricht's last significant victories before his ouster in 1971. For

186-501: A Presidium, consisting of the President, the deputies, and associate members. The President shall convene the chamber whenever it is necessary, or when one fifth of the members wish to. The meetings of the chamber will be open to the public, certain agenda topics may necessitate exclusion of the public. All decisions will be decided by majority vote, unless the constitution declares otherwise. The Länderkammer may introduce legislation to

248-581: A base of imperialism and of struggle against socialism, contrary to the vital interests of the nation, the people of the German Democratic Republic, firmly based upon the achievements of the anti-fascist, democratic and socialist transformation of the socialist system, unitedly carrying on its working classes and sections the work and spirit of the Constitution of October 7, 1949, and imbued by the will to continue unswervingly and in free decision on

310-526: A far-reaching restructuring of the industry ministries took place: the ministries for Bezirk-managed industry and food industry and the glass and ceramics industry were dissolved, and the business areas were transferred to the Ministry of Light Industry on January 1, 1990. The ministries for mechanical and vehicle construction, tool and processing machine construction, heavy machinery and plant construction, and electrical engineering and electronics were transferred to

372-412: A newly formed Ministry of Mechanical Engineering . Karl Grünheid (SED), previously the long-standing minister for the glass and ceramics industry, became minister. A Ministry of Heavy Industry was also newly formed, which was made up of the ministries for geology, ore mining, metallurgy and potash, chemical industry, and coal and energy. The new minister was Kurt Singhuber (SED), who had previously been

434-531: A right to labor organizing , and recognized trade unions have the right to call a strike action . The right to work is guaranteed. Every worker is entitled to recreation, annual vacation leave , sick leave and old age pension . Sundays, holidays, and May 1st are protected by law as days of rest. Citizens also have by right social insurance which provides for health , old age assistance, motherhood assistance, disability, etc. These rights shall be exercised through trade unions and work councils. All people have

496-460: A secure peace and amity with all peoples, have adopted this Constitution. The constitution begins by declaring the indivisibility of the German people as a nationality, and primacy of the states ( Länder ) in politics. The federal government is to be limited in its authority to issues which affect the whole of the nation, all other affairs falling to the states. Berlin is declared as the capital of

558-415: A term of five years. Within the centralized state structure of the GDR, the city, county and district administrations were subordinated to the Council. Willi Stoph and his entire cabinet resigned on 7 November 1989. Stoph was succeeded by Hans Modrow . The SED gave up its monopoly of power on 1 December. Modrow continued in office, leading a cabinet with both SED/PDS and non-communist members. For much of

620-662: A third time in 1949 and accepted the drafted constitution. The People's Council then became the People's Chamber of the East German Republic, and the Peoples' Congress was reformed into the National Front political bloc . The German People, imbued with the desire to safeguard human liberty and rights, to reshape collective and economic life in accordance with the principles of social justice, to serve social progress, and to promote

682-473: A year later and elected a Council (Volksrat). This council would seek to serve as an assembly representing the entire country, irrespective of occupying nation. This assembly designated a committee whose task it was to develop a constitution. Future Minister-President Otto Grotewohl was the chairman of this committee. An election was held in May 1949 to designate a People's Council. The German People's Congress met for

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744-633: Is allowed to review the constitutionality of legislation. If half of members of the assembly question the constitutionality of a law it can be reviewed. The Volkskammer confirms any decision of the Constitutional Committee. The states will be represented in a legislative chamber known as the Chamber of States ( Länderkammer ). Each Laender will be represented by at least one member and there will be one representative for every five hundred thousand inhabitants. These representatives will be elected by

806-577: Is also guaranteed with inheritance tax being determined by law. Any restrictions on private property must be imposed only for the benefit of the general public. Property and enterprises owned by war profiteers and Nazis is to be appropriated by the state without compensation. All monopolistic enterprises which seek to control production are to be abolished and prohibited. Large estates over 100 hectares are to be dissolved and redistributed without compensation. Farmers are guaranteed ownership of their land, and intellectual workers are guaranteed rights by

868-592: Is the duty of the school to educate the students in the spirit of democracy and culture, to the end of making them responsible individuals who take part in their community. Parents shall be involved in the educational system through parent's councils . Education is compulsory until the end of a student's 18th year. After finishing primary school , students will enter into with vocational/training or public schools. All students will also be afforded an opportunity to prepare for their admission to university through use of preparatory schools . These rights are extended to all

930-691: Is vested in the Volkskammer . The members of the Volkskammer are the representatives of the German people and are to be elected in universal, equal, direct elections on a secret ballot . The term for these representatives is four years, and seats will be allocated according to proportional representation . The size of the Volkskammer is to be 400 members. Freedom of the ballot and secrecy of the ballot are guaranteed. All citizens over 18 years of age are eligible to vote and citizens over 21 years of age are permitted to stand for election. The President will convene

992-581: The Peaceful Revolution and the fall of the Berlin Wall , the constitution was significantly revised in November 1989 to prune out its Communist character. Most notably, Article 1, which effectively gave the SED a monopoly of power, was deleted. In April 1990, the democratic forum Runder Tisch (Round Table) developed a proposal for a new GDR constitution to reflect the democratic changes that swept across

1054-604: The political events of 1989 , there were attempts to draft a new constitution for East Germany, but these efforts never materialized due to the dissolution of East Germany and the accession of its states into the neighboring Federal Republic . In 1947 the German People's Congress met in Berlin . The People's Congress was meant to be an alternative to the Western London Conference of Foreign Ministers taking place at

1116-515: The Central Committee were authorized to give instructions to the ministers as necessary. Officially, the prime minister held the highest state post in the GDR. Despite this, no SED first secretary/general secretary ever simultaneously served as prime minister. Until the Wende in the fall of 1989, the two first deputy chairmen were Werner Krolikowski and Alfred Neumann , who were both members of

1178-456: The Committee of General Affairs, the Committee of Economic and Financial affairs, and the Committee of Foreign Affairs. A quorum consists of at least half members being present. Unless the constitution says otherwise legislation will be adopted by majority vote. The deliberations of the assembly are open to the public unless two thirds of the assembly request an exclusion. The functions of

1240-582: The GDR. However, by that time, the newly freely-elected Volkskammer (parliament) was moving in the direction of outright unification with the Federal Republic, and so the draft constitution went nowhere. State Planning Commission (GDR) The State Planning Commission (SPC) ( German : Staatliche Plankommission ) was a central state authority of the GDR Council of Ministers for planning, coordinating and proportional development of all sectors of

1302-558: The Implementation of Economic Reform) In addition, independent state secretariats and central offices were directly subordinate to the Council of Ministers, including In some cases, their heads acted as members of the Council of Ministers. Constitution of East Germany The original Constitution of East Germany (the German Democratic Republic ; German : Verfassung der Deutschen Demokratischen Republik )

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1364-481: The Ministry for the Glass and Ceramics Industry was formed from parts of the glass and fine ceramics industry of various other ministries. The next major change occurred in 1973, when the Ministry of Processing Machinery and Vehicle Construction was split into two ministries, the Ministry of General Machinery, Agricultural Machinery and Vehicle Construction and the Ministry of Tool and Processing Machine Construction. In 1989,

1426-612: The Ministry of Economics, which had only been founded in 1989. (1950 to 1955: Metallurgy and Ore Mining; 1955 to 1958: Mining and Metallurgy) (1965 to 1971: Basic Industries) (1951–1953 State Secretariat for Chemistry, Minerals and Earth; 1953–1955 State Secretariat for Chemistry) (1950–1952 State Secretariat for Materials Supply; 1952–1953 State Administration for Materials Supply; 1953–1954 State Committee for Materials Supply) (1965 to 1973: Machine Tools and Vehicle Construction) (1953 to 1958: Food Industry) (until 1950: Ministry of Planning; from 1990: Economic Committee for

1488-407: The Ministry of Planning in 1950. The state-owned enterprises , agricultural production cooperatives, etc. — each had to defend their plans in front of the planning commission responsible for them. The companies had to regularly document the implementation of the planned services with a large number of plan indicators. Monitoring the fulfillment of the plan was carried out at all levels in parallel by

1550-478: The Republic is declared as the basis for all governmental action and the government must abide by its principles. The people have the right to resist any action which takes place outside of these principles. The people of the Republic and the government are also subject to international laws and statutes. The second section of the constitution deals with the rights of citizens. All citizens are declared equal before

1612-413: The Republic. The people are declared as the true source of political authority. Citizens therefore have the right to engage in political life at the local, county, and national level. This participation includes the right to vote in elections, referendums, and initiatives. Citizens also have the right to stand for election, and have the right to enter into public life whether it be political office or in

1674-696: The SED Politbüro . Other deputy chairmen included the leaders of the four allied parties (Blockparteien). Additional members included the chairman of the State Planning Commission , the president of the Staatsbank der DDR (State Bank of the GDR) and some state secretaries, who were usually office directors at the Council. All members of the Council were selected by the GDR Volkskammer (parliament) for

1736-529: The Volkskammer and may reject legislation from the Volkskammer. The Volkskammer and Länderkammer may present their opinion to the other chamber. Imbued with the responsibility of showing the whole German nation the road to a future of peace and socialism, in view of the historical fact that imperialism, under the leadership of the United States of America and in concert with circles of West German monopoly capital, split Germany in order to build up West Germany as

1798-526: The Volkskammer are: The Volkskammer will also convene a Constitutional Committee. This committee will represent all political parties (proportional membership of the committee corresponding to the composition of the Volkskammer), three members of the Supreme Court, three German professors of constitutional law who are not also members of the Volkskammer. The Constitutional Committee is the only authority which

1860-472: The administration of justice. Citizens also have the right to petition the government. Due to the authority emanating from the people, the constitution states the government must serve the common welfare of the people. This includes their personal liberty, providing for the general peace, and protecting democracy. Those people who are elected to office are ultimately responsible to their representative body and not to their individual party. The constitution of

1922-445: The assembly no later than 30 days after an election. Elections must take place no later than 60 days after a legislative term. In order for the assembly to dissolve (of its own power) more than half of the assembly must consent. The Volkskammer will elect a Presidium. The Presidium will stay in office until the next legislative section. When the assembly is not in session 3 committees are to be elected to maintain government functioning,

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1984-427: The child or parents. Any former laws which go against this mandate are abrogated. Every citizen has an equal right to an education, may freely choose their vocation, and the teaching of art and science shall be free. The Laender will establish public school systems and the logistics for their operation, the Republic shall issue legislation to outline their basic function, and provide for the training of teachers. It

2046-437: The commission produced a document, which, after "public debate", was submitted to a plebiscite on April 6, 1968. Approved by a 94.5 percent margin, the new Constitution went into effect three days later on 9 April 1968. While the 1949 constitution was at least superficially a liberal democratic document, the 1968 constitution was a fully Communist document. Modeled closely on the 1936 Soviet Constitution , it integrated all

2108-412: The constitutional changes that had taken place since 1949 into a new "socialist" framework, but it reduced certain rights provided in the earlier version. Article 1 of the 1968 constitution began with the words, "The German Democratic Republic is a socialist state of the German nation. It is the political organization of the workers in the cities and in the countryside, who jointly under the leadership of

2170-447: The departments that are usual in every government, the Council of Ministers was characterized by a large number of industry ministries that were set up from 1950 onwards. The State Planning Commission was a central organ of the Council of Ministers ("Planning authority 1st level") to coordinate the work of the individual industry ministries ("Planning authority 2nd level"). 1958 the industrial ministries were dissolved and merged in 1961 in

2232-455: The economy, public education and other areas of public life in the districts and for solving the most important economic tasks. In the central administrative economy of the GDR, it was responsible for the coordination, elaboration and control of the medium-term perspective plans (five-year plan) and the annual economic plans derived from them. Heinrich Rau was the first chairman of SPC in 1950–1952. The State Planning Commission emerged from

2294-475: The family as being the foundation of collective life and is thus protected by the state. All laws pertaining to the family which undermine the equality of women are abrogated. During a woman's pregnancy she has the right to maternal care and protection from the state. The constitution outlines that institutions which protect a mother and children in their rights are to be created. Extramarital birth cannot not be ground for discrimination in any way, whether against

2356-445: The first two decades of its existence, the GDR maintained that it was the sole lawful government of all of Germany, denouncing the Federal Republic as an unlawfully constituted NATO puppet state . In the early 1970s, following the rise of Erich Honecker and increased international recognition of the GDR, the SED abandoned reunification in favor of detente . The regime pursued a policy of Abgrenzung, or delimitation. The desired effect

2418-451: The former Reich Air Ministry building on Leipziger Straße housed the industrially-oriented ministries. (until 1954: Labor) (1963–1968 Agricultural Council; 1968–1971 Council for Agricultural Production and Food Economy) (1951–1958 State Secretariat for Higher Education 1958–1967 State Secretariat for Higher Education and Technical Education) (until 1958: Labor and Health; 1989 to 1990: Health and Social Affairs) In addition to

2480-427: The freedom to assemble peacefully and unarmed. No person shall have these freedoms infringed based on their employment. The constitution declares the freedom of the press from censorship. No citizen may be extradited , nor can non-citizens be extradited provided they are engaged in struggle similar in principle to the constitution. Citizens have the right to emigrate, and any changes to this law must be applicable to

2542-476: The law. However a citizen convicted of a felony is disqualified from certain rights and privileges, including the right to vote and hold public office. Gender equality is enshrined and any law which limits the equality of women is abolished. Citizens have the right to personal liberty, privacy of the home and of the mail, and the right to live where they choose. Citizens have the right to freedom of expression within constitutionally applicable laws. This includes

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2604-443: The legislatures of the states ( Landtag ). This will be done proportionally to the strength of the political parties represented within these legislatures. These representatives will be drawn from the members of these Laender parliaments, their terms will correspond to the terms of the parliaments. The members shall represent the wishes of their respective Laendar but will follow freely their own conscience. The chamber will elect

2666-575: The long-serving minister for ore mining, metallurgy and potash. The Ministry of Materials Management, however, was incorporated into the State Planning Commission. In the de Maizière government the three remaining industrial ministries of light industry, heavy industry and mechanical engineering as well as the Economic Committee for the Implementation of Economic Reform , successor to the State Planning Commission, were incorporated into

2728-519: The newly founded People's Economic Council (VWR). The chairman of the VWR was Alfred Neumann (SED). These organizational changes occurred in the course of the introduction of the New Economic System of Planning and Management (NÖSPL). The VWR was abolished again in 1965 and individual industrial ministries were set up again. As before, these were subordinate to the State Planning Commission. In 1972,

2790-751: The party as a result of not delivering of the state plans. At the intergovernmental level, the SPC coordinated the plans of the GDR with the countries of the Comecon Block. For this purpose the East German government agreements were concluded within the framework of socialist economic integration. The SPC was based in the former building of the Prussian Landtag (state parliament) at the address Leipziger Straße 5–7 in East Berlin 's Mitte district . The chairmen of

2852-479: The party organs of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , which were authorized to issue instructions to the state leaders. The annual national economic plan passed by the People's Chamber had the force of law. Verifiable violations of the plan discipline could lead to sanctions (fines) for the company. Since almost all company leaders were also members of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany , they could be expelled from

2914-409: The policies of Ostpolitik and détente followed by both East and West during the 1970s. Article 1 of the amended constitution began with the words, "The German Democratic Republic is a socialist state of workers and farmers. It is the political organization of the workers in the cities and in the countryside under the leadership of the working class and their Marxist-Leninist party." In the wake of

2976-420: The population. Education is to be free . This means tuition , all text books , and instruction material that is used in compulsory education is to be furnished without cost. Scholarships will be provided to students as well based on need. Religious education is reserved for religious institutions. These institutions are guaranteed the right to conduct religious education. Supreme governmental authority

3038-604: The responsible departments of the Central Committee (Zentralkomitee) of the Socialist Unity Party of Germany (SED) and especially the Politbüro of the SED Central Committee. The Präsidium managed the day-to-day affairs of the Council between its weekly meetings, which took place regularly on Wednesdays to execute the resolutions of the Politbüro’s weekly meetings (on Tuesdays). The secretaries and department managers in

3100-411: The right to a social insurance which provides for health, old age assistance, motherhood assistance, disability assistance, etc. The economy of the Republic is to be structured from the principles of social justice and the need to provide all people with an existence of human dignity. The constitution declares the economy must benefit the whole people and that each person will receive their fair share of

3162-517: The road of peace, social justice, democracy, socialism and international friendship, have given themselves this Socialist Constitution. At the Seventh Party Congress of the SED in April 1967, Ulbricht called for a new constitution, declaring that the existing constitution no longer accorded "with the relations of socialist society and the present level of historical development". A new constitution

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3224-538: The same time. The People's Congress' aim was to establish an assembly which would represent the entire German nation and determine the nation's political future and prevent the division of post-war Germany . In all there were 2215 delegates sent to the congress (664 of whom represented Germans in zones occupied by the Western Powers). The second Congress, which had by this point been outlawed in Western occupied zones, met

3286-613: The seat of the Council from 1950 to 1953. From 1961 to 1990 the Council's offices were located in the former Old City Hall of Berlin at No. 47 Klosterstraße . The Law Gazette of the GDR (Gesetzblatt der DDR) was also published by the Council. In addition, the Council’s Press Office made official government announcements and was responsible for the accreditation of foreign journalists in the GDR. The individual ministries had their own headquarters buildings in East Berlin, although

3348-587: The secretary of the Central Committee responsible for their portfolio, and, at least unofficially, to the General Secretary. The Council was led by a chairman (Vorsitzender) , who was usually called " prime minister " in non-German sources. There were two first deputy chairmen and nine other deputy chairmen. Together with some key ministers they formed the presidency (Präsidium) of the Council. The Präsidium prepared all decisions in consultation with

3410-482: The state. All mineral and exploitable resources are to be transferred to public ownership . The state shall ensure their use for the benefit of the whole of society. Every citizen and family is entitled to a healthy and suitable dwelling. Considerations shall be made for victims of fascism, resettled people, severely disabled people, etc. Property and income shall be progressively taxed with consideration made for family obligations. The constitution declares

3472-436: The whole nation and not on an individual basis. People have the right to free ethnic education and development. No person shall be deprived of using their native language in the judicial system, education, or politics. Citizens are free to form societies and associations. Associations which are aligned with constitutional principles and which support democracy may be permitted to stand candidates for election. The people have

3534-561: The winter of 1989 and 1990, he was the de facto leader of East Germany. Modrow was succeeded by Lothar de Maizière after what turned out to be the only free election ever held in East Germany, in March 1990. The de Maizière cabinet presided over the transition period to the reunification of the two Germanies in October 1990. The former Prussian state parliament (Preußischer Landtag) served as

3596-420: The working class and their Marxist-Leninist party will realize Socialism." While the old document made no mention of the SED, Article 1 of the new constitution unequivocally declared that "the leadership of the state is to be exercised through the working class and its Marxist-Leninist party"—the SED. The 1949 constitution had declared Germany a "democratic republic", whereas the new one described East Germany as

3658-423: The yield of production. Free enterprise is permitted as long as it fits within this scope. The government will support co-operatives and the development of farmers, traders, and craftsmen. The economy is to be overseen by legislative bodies and it is the task of public officials to supervise and implement this economic plan. Private property is guaranteed by the state if it can exist within this scope. Inheritance

3720-519: Was needed to conform with the Marxist–Leninist belief in the progression of history and the role of the working class led by the SED. The new constitution would also reflect the role of the state as the party's main instrument in achieving the goal of a socialist and eventually communist society. A commission in the Volkskammer was tasked in December 1967 to draft a new constitution. Two months later

3782-487: Was promulgated on 7 October 1949. It was heavily based on the Weimar Constitution ( Weimarer Reichsverfassung ) and nominally established the GDR as a liberal democratic republic. In 1968, the East German government adopted a new, fully Communist constitution that was based on Marxism–Leninism , political unitarism , and collective leadership . There were further amendments to the 1968 constitution in 1974. With

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3844-522: Was to create a separate GDR national identity. As a result, the 1968 constitution was amended by the Volkskammer on 27 September 1974 to delete the reference to the German nation; indeed, the use of the word "German" was cut back almost to a bare minimum. The amended document increased the emphasis on solidarity and friendship with the Soviet Union. In practice, however, ties between East Germans and their West German countrymen increased, in part due to

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