Coalition Government

Coalitions had been part of the German political culture prior to the introduction of proportional representation in the 1919 constitution. Parties were used to having to work together in government so the idea of a coalition was not something new.

The 1919 constitution simply enshrined this practice into law with the introduction of proportional representation. Parties worked together in government in the form of coalitions. Typically in the Weimar Republic, coalitions would be made up of centre parties which the left and the right would not have too much of a problem with. Collapses of governments would tend to occur when coalition partners walked out.