Präsidium des Bundes or Bundespräsidium (German: [ˈbʊndəs.pʁɛˌziːdi̯ʊm], roughly chairmanship of the federation) was a title under the German Confederation (1815–1848, 1851–1866) whereby the Austrian delegate held the chair of the Federal Assembly. Austria was thus called the presiding power (German: Präsidialmacht). This did not give Austria extra competencies: its delegate simply led the proceedings of the Federal Assembly.[1]
Later, during the North German Confederation (1867–1871), the same title was used for an office functioning as head of state.[2] According to the constitution, the holder of this office was always the king of Prussia. The king was also Bundesfeldherr, federal commander-in-chief. The constitutional changes of 1870–1871 renamed the North German Confederation to the German Empire; the title and function of Bundespräsidium remained, but was combined with the additional title Deutscher Kaiser (German Emperor).
Notes
- ^ Ernst Rudolf Huber: Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789. Band I: Reform und Restauration 1789 bis 1830. 2nd edition, Verlag W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart et.al. 1967, p. 589.
- ^ Ernst Rudolf Huber: Deutsche Verfassungsgeschichte seit 1789. Band III: Bismarck und das Reich. 3rd edition, W. Kohlhammer, Stuttgart 1988, p. 657.