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Primary sourceDocument4 May 1871

Constitution of the German Empire

4 May 1871

The 1871 basic law of the German Empire, shaped by Bismarck, which concentrated power in the emperor and chancellor.

Bismarck drafted the structure of this constitution, which defined his own powers as chancellor.

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Black and white scan of the opening pages of the 1871 Constitution of the German Empire, with ornate calligraphic headings reading 'Wir Wilhelm, von Gottes Gnaden Deutscher Kaiser, König von Preußen' and a handwritten signature and seal at the bottom right, with dense printed and handwritten German text on the facing page.
Constitution of the German Empire, 16 April 1871, with signature of Kaiser Wilhelm I.

About this source

What it is

This document is the Constitution of the German Empire, which came into effect on 4 May 1871 and lasted until 1919. It was based on Bismarck's earlier draft for the North German Confederation and was signed by the king of Prussia and the rulers of Bavaria, Württemberg, Baden and Hesse.

Why it matters

The constitution created a federation led by Prussia, with the king as hereditary emperor and a chancellor he appointed as head of government. The elected Reichstag had limited power compared to the emperor and chancellor. Because Bismarck largely designed this structure, it reveals how he intended to govern Germany: unified, but firmly controlled from the top.

Look closer

  • Who had real power under this constitution, and who had less?
  • Why might Bismarck have wanted the Reichstag's authority limited?
  • What does the list of signing states tell you about how Germany was unified?

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