Part 38 (2/2)

ARTICLE 175

The provisions of Article 109 do not apply to orders and decorations conferred for services in the war-years 1914-1919.

ARTICLE 176

All public officers and members of the armed forces shall be sworn upon this Const.i.tution. Details will be regulated by order of the National President.

ARTICLE 177

Wherever by existing laws it is provided that the oath be taken in the form of a religious ceremony, the oath may be lawfully taken in the form of a simple affirmation by the person to be sworn: ”I swear.” Otherwise the content of the oath provided for in the laws remains unaltered.

ARTICLE 178

The Const.i.tution of the German Empire of April 16, 1871, and the law of February 10, 1919, relating to the provisional government of the Commonwealth, are repealed.

The other laws and regulations of the Empire remain in force, in so far as they do not conflict with this Const.i.tution. The provisions of the Treaty of Peace signed on June 28, 1919, at Versailles, are not affected by the Const.i.tution.

Official regulations, legally issued on the authority of laws heretofore in effect, retain their validity until superseded by other regulations or legislation.

ARTICLE 179

In so far as reference is made in laws or executive orders to provisions and inst.i.tutions which are abolished by this Const.i.tution, their places are taken by the corresponding provisions and inst.i.tutions of this Const.i.tution. In particular, the National a.s.sembly takes the place of the National Convention, the National Council that of the Committee of the States, and the National President elected by authority of this Const.i.tution that of the National President elected by authority of the law relating to the provisional government.

The power to issue executive orders, conferred upon the Committee of the States in accordance with the provisions heretofore in effect, is transferred to the National Cabinet; in order to issue executive orders it requires the consent of the National Council in accordance with the provisions of this Const.i.tution.

ARTICLE 180

Until the convening of the first National a.s.sembly, the National Convention will function as the National a.s.sembly. Until the inauguration of the first National President the office will be filled by the National President elected by authority of the law relating to the provisional government.

ARTICLE 181

The German People have ordained and established this Const.i.tution by their National Convention. It goes into effect upon the day of its promulgation.

SCHWARZBURG, August 11, 1919

[_Signed_]

The National President: EBERT.

The National Cabinet: BAUER, ERZBERGER, HERMANN MuLLER, DR. DAVID, NOSKE, SCHMIDT, SCHLICKE, GIESBERTS, DR. MAYER, DR. BELL.

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