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Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany

Constitutions, Charters and Statutes

The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. The West German constitution was adopted in Bonn on 8 May 1949 and took effect on 23 May after approval by the occupying Western Allies of World War II. It was called a Basic Law rather than a constitution to signal that it was a provisional arrangement pending German reunification, but when reunification took place in 1990 it was retained as the definitive constitution of the reunified country. Its authors, seeking to prevent a future dictator from ever again seizing power, made protection of human dignity its first article and placed the principles of democracy, republicanism, social responsibility, federalism, and the rule of law under a permanent eternity clause that cannot be amended away.

Facts
Creation Year
1949 2
From the Wikidata inception and start time statements (P571, P580).
Document Type
Document Type (category)
Constitution 1
Connections

In Era

Source Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (Wikipedia)
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Originated In

Also in Geography Atlas: where this subject originated.

Sources
1. Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (Wikipedia)
  • lead paragraph
    The Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany (German: Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany.
  • In Era: The Contemporary Period, lead paragraph and infobox, date
    On 23 May 1949, in a solemn session of the Parliamentary Council, the German Basic Law was signed and promulgated.
  • In Group: Constitutions, Charters and Statutes of the Cold War Era, 1946 to 1989, Lead
    The West German constitution was adopted in Bonn on 8 May 1949 and came into effect on 23 May after having been approved by the occupying western Allies of World War II on 12 May.
View the Source
2. Wikidata: Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany
Wikidata Q56045, class allow-list match (w-wdresolver-0926)View the Source
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