Defect of Weimar republic 1) It was politically fragile because it was not well received by its own people itself people didn't accept Weimar as they were upset about the peace treaty of Versailles. 2) second Weimar carried a national humiliation as the people was not happy with the defeat of Germany in first world war

Inherent Defects in the Weimar Constitution:

There were several inherent defects in the Weimar Constitution, which contributed to the instability and ultimate downfall of the Weimar Republic. Two significant defects are outlined below:

1. Proportional Representation:

The Weimar Constitution introduced a system of proportional representation, whereby the number of seats a party obtained in the Reichstag was determined by the percentage of votes it received in the elections. While this may seem fair and democratic in theory, it had several detrimental consequences:

- Fragmentation of Political Parties: Proportional representation led to the proliferation of small, splinter parties, making it difficult for any single party to secure a majority in the Reichstag. As a result, coalition governments became the norm, often consisting of numerous parties with varying ideologies. This fragmentation hindered effective governance, as parties struggled to find common ground and implement coherent policies.

- Instability and Ineffectiveness: Due to the constant need for coalition-building, governments were often short-lived and lacked stability. This led to frequent changes in leadership and policies, as parties jockeyed for power. Consequently, the government was unable to make decisive decisions or address the pressing socio-economic issues of the time, such as hyperinflation and unemployment. The lack of effective governance further eroded public trust in the system, paving the way for extremist parties to gain support.

2. Article 48 and Presidential Powers:

Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution granted the President emergency powers to dissolve the Reichstag, impose martial law, and rule by decree in times of crisis. While this provision was intended to provide stability and ensure a swift response to emergencies, it had unintended consequences:

- Authoritarianism: The broad powers granted to the President under Article 48 allowed for the potential abuse of executive authority. Instead of being used solely in times of crisis, some presidents, most notably Paul von Hindenburg, exploited these powers to bypass the Reichstag and rule by decree even in relatively stable periods. This undermined the democratic principles of the constitution and paved the way for the rise of authoritarianism.

- Undermining Parliamentary Democracy: The frequent use of Article 48 weakened the authority and relevance of the Reichstag. By bypassing the elected representatives, the President could make unilateral decisions, diminishing the role of the legislative branch. This undermined the checks and balances envisioned in the constitution and contributed to the erosion of democratic norms.

In conclusion, the Weimar Constitution had inherent defects that contributed to the instability and downfall of the Weimar Republic. The proportional representation system led to fragmentation and ineffective governance, while the broad powers granted to the President under Article 48 undermined democratic principles and weakened the authority of the Reichstag. These defects, among other factors, created a fertile ground for the rise of extremist ideologies and ultimately led to the demise of the Weimar Republic.