Constitution of the German Empire (April 16, 1871)

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Art. 7
The Federal Council determines:

1. what Bills are to be brought before the Reichstag and on the resolutions passed by the same;

2. as to the administrative regulations and institutions necessary for the general execution of the Reich legislation, in so far as no other Reich law has decreed to the contrary;

3. as to defects which have made themselves manifest in the execution of the Reich laws or the above-mentioned measures and arrangements.

Every member of the Federation has the right to propose Bills and to recommend them, and the Presidency is bound to bring them under debate.

The decisions take place by simple majority, with the reservation of the stipulations in Art. 5, 37 and 78. Non-represented votes or votes without instructions are not counted. In equal divisions the Presidential is the casting vote.

In decisions upon affairs wherein, according to the rules of this Constitution, the whole Reich has not a common interest, only the votes of those federated States are counted which are interested in common.


Art. 8
The Federal Council forms permanent Committees from its own members:

1. for the army and fortresses;
2. for naval affairs;
3. for customs and taxes;
4. for commerce and communications;
5. for railways, post and telegraphs;
6. for affairs of justice;
7. for finances.

In each of these Committees, besides the Presidency, at least four of the federated States will be represented, and in the same each State has only one vote. In the Committee for the army and fortresses, Bavaria has a perpetual seat, the other members thereof as well as the members for the Naval Committee are nominated by the Emperor; the members of the other Committees are elected by the Federal Council. The composition of these Committees is to be renewed for every session of the Federal Council or every year, when the outgoing members may be re-elected.

Besides these in the Federal Council, a Committee for Foreign Affairs will be formed, comprised of the representatives of the Kingdoms of Bavaria, Saxony and Württemberg, and of two other representatives of other federated States, who will be elected each year by the Federal Council, in which Committee Bavaria will occupy the chair.

The necessary officials will be placed at the disposal of these Committees.