CHAPTER III THE DEMOCRATIC PRINCIPLE SECTION 1 THE PRINCIPLE The power of the state is derived from the people 75 The system of councils, or the dictatorship of the proletariat 77 The Chamber of Labour, or the Vocational Parliament 82 The Political Activity of the Unions 91 SECTION 2 THE APPLICATIONS The republic 98 Universal suffrage, the political parties and the electoral law 100 General principles 103 The electorate and eligibility 109 Preparations for elections 112 Distribution of seats 113 The actual working of the law 115 Direct government 118 CHAPTER IV PARLIAMENTARY GOVERNMENT SECTION 1 THE REICHSTAG Privileges and guarantees accorded to the Reichstag 131 The rules of the Reichstag 135 The duration of the powers of the Reichstag 137 Powers of the Reichstag 138 1. Powers of the Reichstag, as principal holder of sovereignty 138 2. Legislative powers; how laws are proposed and passed 139 3. Power of control; interpellations and committees 147 SECTION 2 THE PRESIDENT OF THE REICH The need for a strong president 153 The election of the President and the length of his term 156 The powers of the President 162 The responsibility of the President 168 SECTION 3 THE CABINET OF THE REICH The Chancellor and the Ministers according to the Constitution 172 The working of constitutional rules; how a Ministry is formed, how it works and is dissolved 177 SECTION 4 THE REICHSRAT General features of the Reichsrat 186 The composition and the functioning of the Reichsrat 188 Powers of the Reichsrat 192