Ideal Constitution for a united Germany

JJohnson

Banned
Let's posit that 1848 was successful in uniting Germany much earlier than OTL. It contains at least what we considered the 1871 territory of Germany, and may contain Austria (but is not required), or later, German Austria (without Bohemia/Moravia, but including German Bohemia, etc).

What's the best kind of constitution this version of Germany could get realistically?

Would we see a national legislature with a state house and population-based house? Kaiser plus chancellor? Nobility surviving to today?

And would this be a better Germany than a republic?
 
They have the constitution of 1849.

The question of organization is mostly one question: who is going to be the emperor? Prussia or Austria?

If it's the king of Prussia, Austria will most likely not become part of Germany (like OTL in 1871). If the emperor of Austria becomes emperorof the Germans, than it will be difficult to have the Prussians agree.

A republic could solve this problem, but then, the revolution has to be much more radical, maybe also longer, involving a civil war seeing the victory of the radical left.

Also, if Austria becomes part of Germany, you'll either to seperate Hungary from Austria, what the Austrians would not accept, or to annex Hungary to as a part of Germany - what the north Germans and the Hungarians would not accept.

And Germany has to unite before the other states recover from their own rebellions - in the other case, Russian and French troops will attempt to prevent a German unification, particularly a republic one.
 
Actually, a German prince not related to neither the Habsburgs nor the Hohenzollerns is the wisest choice.
I don´t think this would work. At least in the beginning the Reich would depend of the power of it strongest member-state. And if you really want to have a real german national state and not a gloriefied conferation the kleindeutsche-prussian solution is the best was. Austria can join later, if the Habsburg-Empire falls apart,
I think the Frankfurt Constitution is a good workable compromise. It can develope from a constitutional to a parlamentary monarchy in a organic way.
 
the Frankfurt constitution works as a document, but in order for Germany to emerge united (and Kleindeutschland is the most logical outcome) you need to have the Prussian establishment get behind it. In my TL I did it by having the Austrians have a military annus horribilis in 1848, but I freely admit though plausible its not the likeliest event.
 
the Frankfurt constitution works as a document, but in order for Germany to emerge united (and Kleindeutschland is the most logical outcome) you need to have the Prussian establishment get behind it. In my TL I did it by having the Austrians have a military annus horribilis in 1848, but I freely admit though plausible its not the likeliest event.

Yes, the king would need to accept the crown and the constitution, but thats not what the OP asking for. He ask for a ideal constitution for Germany and the Frankfurter constitution on paper fits the bill.
 

PhilippeO

Banned
is not possible to have two kings ? Like Sparta or Carthage ? with whoever oldest one as senior king and youngest one as junior king.
 
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