ABSTRACT
In January 1871 the victorious King William of Prussia was proclaimed ‘German Emperor’ (not ‘Emperor of Germany’) at Versailles. He thus became the senior rather than the superior of the other German princes. Bismarck indeed maintained that the princes were subordinated to the Empire rather than to the Emperor, and in particular to the Federal Council (Bundesrat). To this body, which in name was nothing new, each of the twenty-five member governments sent a delegation proportionate to its importance. Though all the votes of each delegation counted, each voted as a block (on the logical if questionable principle that no government can be of two minds). Of the fifty-eight members, seventeen came from Prussia (which after her victories comprised in area and population about five-eighths of the Federation and completely surrounded twelve of the smaller states), six from Bavaria and four each from Saxony and Württemberg. As no proposal to change the constitution could go forward if fourteen votes were cast against it, Prussia and the South German states acting together were thus in effect given a guarantee against any reforms of which they disapproved. The agreement of the Bundesrat was required before legislation could be submitted to the Imperial Assembly (Reichstag) and the Bundesrat was to be consulted on all important questions including declarations of war.
