The former Bundesrat was an organ which had in legislative matters the same rights as the Reichstag. It exercised in addition important executive functions; in particular it had the right to promulgate general administrative regulations for executing the laws of the Reich. It was the central administrative authority in matters relating to customs and taxes. It decided conflicts of a constitutional character as well as miscarriages of justice. Of all these powers few have descended to the Reichsrat. In order to emphasize the idea of the unity of the Reich and of the sovereignty of the whole German people in the Reich, the new Constitution limits to a considerable extent the powers of the Reichsrat. However, it has left it a certain right to participate in the making of laws and in the exercise of executive power. In legislative matters, it will be recalled, that all proposals of laws on the part of the Cabinet must be presented at first to the Reichsrat; in theory, must be accepted by it before being submitted to the Reichstag. But as we know this consent is not indispensable and the government may disregard it. It will be recalled also that the Reichsrat has the right to protest against any law voted by the Reichstag; but that it may have its protest disregarded under certain conditions. Already the Reichsrat has made use of its right of protest. That was done in connection with a bill that raised postal taxes. The National Assembly, acting in the character of the Reichstag, had voted a provision according to the terms of which the sending by mail of official documents would have to be paid for, no longer by him who received them, but by the sender. The representatives of Prussia, Bavaria and of Saxony criticized in the Reichsrat this measure, and found support in the Assembly to the extent of a majority of thirty-eight votes. Whereupon the Reichsrat raised a protest against this measure, April 29, 1920. The bill then returned to the National Assembly; but the conflict ended with a compromise, without recourse to the procedure provided by the Constitution for such a case. The Reichsrat still possesses some executive powers. On the one hand, the Constitution and the law frequently stipulate that a regulation by the Cabinet of the Reich must be authorized by the Reichsrat. On the other hand, the law of April 17, 1919, “for a simplified form of legislation on economic matters” provides that regulations decreed by the Cabinet in this matter must be approved both by the Reichsrat and by a committee of twenty-eight members of the Assembly. The Reichsrat and the Committee have in this case absolutely equal rights. Finally Article 67 provides that the Reichsrat must be kept informed by the national departments of the conduct of national business. CHAPTER V FUNDAMENTAL RIGHTS AND DUTIES OF GERMANS