On July 31st 1863 The Emperor of Austria, in an autographed letter, invited all the sovereigns of the German Confederation, and the senates of the free cities to meet in assembly at Frankfurt-on-the-Main. In it he encouraged all to attend, to discuss the question of re-organizing the German Confederation suitable to the requirements of that ever changing age. Most of the governments accepted the invitation, and the sitting of the congress opened on August 17th at 11am. under the presidency of the Emperor. In his opening speech he spoke at great length of the proposed reform and the king of Bavaria replied. The following is a complete list of all who took part in the proceedings of the congress. On August 19th the King of Saxony left Frankfort for Baden, where the King of Prussia was staying, with a joint invitation from the assembled princes to the king to take part in the Congress, but the king (under influence from Bismark) continued to decline. The session of the Congress ended on September 1st. The Emperor of Austria at the closing sitting expressed his satisfaction at the complete fulfilment of his hopes of a direct cooperation on the part of the German sovereigns. He hoped that this first Congress of German Princes would be followed by a second, one that all the members would attend, and that all might be united in a strong body. As a result of this Congress, the Reform act was agreed by all but 6 states. (Baden, Luxemburg, Saxe-Weimar, Mecklenburg-Schwerin, Waldeck and Pymont and Reuss (younger line)). The Act bears the date of September 1st 1866 and is entitled "Reform of the German Bund as proposed by the Congress of Princes held at Frankfort".
It's provisions were as follows:
1. The objects of the German Confederation are declared to be the maintenance of the security and power of Germany in regard to foreign countries, the maintenance of public order at home and the furtherance of the interests of the German nation.
2. A Directory is established for the management of the affairs of the confederation, a Federal Council is organised from among the plenipotentiaries of the governments, an assessment of Federal delegates is to be convoked periodically and a Federal court of justice is established.
3. The Directory is to consist of 6 votes, namely: 1. Austria, 2. Prussia, 3. Bavaria, 4. Saxony, Hanover & Wurtemburg, 5. A member elected by Baden, the two Hesse's Holstein, Luxemburg, Brunswick, the two Mecklenburgs & Nassau, and 6. A member elected by all the other states. The Federal council of 17 members nominally (but 23 actually) as Austria and Prussia had three votes each.
4. The Assembly of Delegates is to consist of three hundred and two members - elected not by the people but by the representative bodies of several German States. Austria is to have 75 members, Prussia (if she pleases) the same. The four free cities are entitled to send two representatives (the original proposal was for one only). This assembly was to meet once in three years, in the month of May, and may not be prorogued by the Directory for any period not exceeding two months. Should the Assembly be dissolved, the Directory is empowered immediately to issue orders for a new election. The right to make representatives and complaints is granted to the Assembly and it may pass resolution on national affairs but legislative privileges are denied.
5. The Assembly of Princes takes into consideration the results of the deliberations of the Chamber of Deputies and examines in the representations and complaints of the Chamber of Delegates and orders the promulgation by the Directory and by the several states of the acts it has sanctioned.
6. No formal declaration of war can be made without the consent of two thirds of the Federal Council. Should there be danger of a war between a foreign power and a state which has possessions not belonging to the Confederation, the Directory is bound by the decision of the Federal Council whether or not the Confederation shall take part in the war.