WI Imperial German constitutional changes?

Here's a screen dump from Wiki:

The constitution was heavily amended in the waning days of World War I. The amended document, known as the Oktoberverfassung ("October Constitution") was debated and passed by the Reichstag in late October 1918. The most important changes were:

  • Declarations of war and peace treaties now required the assent of the Reichstag
  • Members of the government could now simultaneously be members of the Reichstag
  • The Reichskanzler and the Secretaries of State now required the confidence of the Reichstag. They were accountable for the conduct of their affairs to the Reichstag and to the Bundesrat
  • The Reichskanzler was now responsible for all political actions of the Emperor
  • The Emperor's rights to appoint, promote or reassign military officers were now limited by requiring the co-signature of the Reichskanzler or the Minister of War responsible for the contingent. The Ministers of War were now accountable to the Bundesrat and Reichstag for the management of their contingent
The changes came into force on 28 October, transforming the authoritarian Empire into a parliamentary democratic monarchy on the British model.

Could most or all of these changes occur before 1916 but after 1871? They don't all have to occur all at once, in fits and starts would be fine. Which would be the first to occur? What changes would occur if some or many were adopted?
 
Those reforms passed because Wilhelm was under enormous pressure to try and save the furniture when the war was looking dire (of course by then it too late to save himself). Short of a major setback like WWI or a revolution (Nicky and 1905), it seems like you would need a relatively enlightened liberal monarch to accept the case for change and act before events are forced upon him. Whether or not Frederick's liberalism outweighed his Prussian upbringing and conservatism idk, but he seems more likely than either his father or son.

Or perhaps Willy dies early in life and a less intemperate son becomes Kaiser sometime in the 1890s to begin/complete the work of democratising Germany? I think it is probably doable, with perhaps ministerial accountability likely to be the first major concession, probably with the Army budget still being source of ongoing tension though.
 
So there was no constitutional crisis between 1871 and 1914 that could cause one or two changes? Or war shocks in 1914-5 that could see a couple more?
 

LordKalvert

Banned
So there was no constitutional crisis between 1871 and 1914 that could cause one or two changes? Or war shocks in 1914-5 that could see a couple more?

Perhaps something like the Daily Telegraph affair but the British system evolves over a very long time and more by custom than by law- the crown retains a lot of theoritical power in London. Those powers were simply allowed to lapse due to non use than to be formally renounced

Assuming Frederick was a great reformer like many think he would have been (I have my doubts). Is he likely to push a Constitutional amendment that makes the Chancellor responsible to the Reichstag or just appoint someone that the Reichstag approves? I think the latter since he can do it on his own rather than the former which would require approval

The problem with simply letting powers lapse is that their disuse wouldn't be all that long and Wilhelm could reassert them pretty easily. A lot would depend on how long Frederick reigns- he would be 83 when WWII breaks out so he could reign up to the whole period

These are major changes and politics is governed more by inertia than anything else. I'm finding it hard for such major changes to take place, a triggering event short of war or a crises of the monarchy. The latter though is more likely to see a regency appointed or an abdication than Constitutional change

Maybe a confrontation between the Imperial government and the Princely states? Or a revolt of the rather silly Reichstag apportionment- the SPD wins more votes than the Centre and KP combined yet gets fewer seats than either of them in 1907

Centre 105 seats 2,179,000 votes

Kp 60 seats 1,060,000

SPD 3,250,000 votes and 43 seats

I think the proposed POD is possible but difficult
 
What would be the easiest change in that list to enact? I think maybe the members of government also being members of the Reichstag?
 
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