Nothing systematic, however, has as yet been achieved. The ground is new. Surprised by the Revolution, the theoreticians of new systems have not yet fixed their schemes nor elaborated complete and coherent plans. On the other hand, the majority of the National Assembly is formed by a coalition of parties whose economic conceptions differ still more than do their political conceptions. This lack of definiteness and these differences endanger all effective realization of a solution. But the necessity of reforms has made itself imperatively felt and economic difficulties are so grave and menacing that they cannot wait indefinitely for solution. Further, there are very many people who are restive and who do not hesitate to resort to general strikes and even to revolts, when governments hesitate too long in effecting a reform from which they hope an amelioration of their lot. That is why one will look in vain for a plan as a whole or a logical order in the provisions we are about to study. Most of them were adopted by an assembly uncertain of the work it should do, one which went about its tasks most hurriedly and obeyed the pressure of external forces more powerful than itself. SECTION I THE ECONOMIC CONSTITUTION The Economic Constitution rests wholly on the idea of the Councils. It is recalled[57] that the system of the Councils, even under the parity principle which the supporters of the Vocational Parliament wished to give it, was left out of the political Constitution but is included in the Economic Constitution, for which it forms the framework. 1.--THE “ANCHORAGE” OF THE COUNCILS IN THE CONSTITUTION. Before the Revolution, said the Socialists and Trade Unionists, there was in Germany neither political autonomy nor economic autonomy. Just as in their political life the people were governed by a coterie of junkers and bureaucrats, so in their economic life the people were under the absolute domination of the entrepreneur. This autocracy of the capitalists expressed itself legally in the fact that the conditions of work were fixed solely by the employers. The omnipotence of the latter was, however, modified by the collective bargains concluded between them and the trade unions. While it is true that these agreements or bargains did not have legal guarantees, nevertheless thanks to the existence of workingmen’s organizations there was instituted by means of these agreements a contractual and coequal workingmen’s right. The Revolution of 1918 introduced in Germany political democracy. The republican government in its establishment has even taken several steps along the road of economic democracy. Reforms, such as the granting of complete liberty of organization, the abolition of ordinances on wages and exceptional laws against agricultural labourers, and the protection of workers and salaried employés against arbitrary discharge, certainly mark interesting progress.