The drafting of the Constitution was entrusted to Dr. Hugo Preuss, Professor of Public Law in the Commercial University of Berlin, Secretary of the Interior in the Provisional Government, and Minister of the Interior in the first Coalition Government. The Democratic Party, of which he is a member, having left the Coalition on the question of signature of the Treaty of Versailles, Dr. Preuss retained responsibility for the passage of the Constitution as Special Commissioner. The first draft of the Constitution was published in January and was submitted to the Assembly on 21 February. It was introduced by Preuss with lengthy expositions in sessions on 28 February and 3 and 4 March, and thereafter submitted to a Committee of twenty-eight under the Presidency of the deputy Conrad Haussmann. After being completely recast in Committee it was debated in second reading 2-22 July; when the status of the Free States, the education question, and the recognition of industrial Councils were especially contested and eventually compromised. The third reading, 29-31 July, ended in its being voted by 262 to 75, the minority consisting of the Conservatives and the Independent Socialists. CONSTITUTION OF THE GERMAN REALM The German people united in its every branch and inspired by the determination to renew and establish the Realm in liberty and justice, to ensure peace at home and abroad, and to further social progress, has given itself this Constitution. FIRST PART THE REALM: ITS ORGANISATION AND FUNCTIONS SECTION I REALM AND LANDS ARTICLE 1. The German Realm is a Republic.[1] Constitutional power proceeds from the people.[2] ARTICLE 2. The territory of the Realm consists of the territories of the German Lands.[3] Other territories may be incorporated in the Realm by an act of the Realm, if their populations should so desire in virtue of the right of self-determination. ARTICLE 3. The colours of the Realm are black-red-gold. The commercial flag is black-white-red with the national colours in the inner upper corner.[4] ARTICLE 4. The generally recognised rules of international law are held to be integral and obligatory parts of the Law of the German Realm.[5] ARTICLE 5. Constitutional power shall be exercised, in matters pertaining to the Realm, by the Constitutional Bodies of the Realm on the basis of the constitution of the Realm, in matters pertaining to the Lands, by the constitutional bodies of the Lands on the basis of the constitutions of the Lands. ARTICLE 6. The Realm has exclusive legislative authority in:-- (1) Foreign relations.[6] (2) Colonial affairs.[7] (3) Nationality, freedom of domicile, immigration and emigration, extradition. (4) National defence.[8] (5) Currency. (6) Tariffs, and the Customs and Commercial Union and freedom of Trade. (7) Posts and telegraphs, including telephones.[9] ARTICLE 7. The Realm has legislative authority in the following subjects:-- (1) Citizenship. (2) The criminal code.