Section III: The Reich President and the Reich Cabinet
ARTICLE 41
The Reich President is elected by the whole German people. Every German who has completed his thirty-fifth year is eligible for election. [ . . . ]
ARTICLE 42
On assuming office, the Reich President shall take the following oath before the Reichstag:
I swear to devote my energies to the well-being of the German people, to further their interests, to guard them from injury, to maintain the Constitution and the laws of the Reich, to fulfill my duties conscientiously, and to administer justice for all.
It is permissible to add religious affirmation.
ARTICLE 43
The term of office of the Reich President is seven years. Re-election is permissible.
Before the expiration of his term, the Reich President, upon motion of the Reichstag, may be recalled by a popular vote. The decision of the Reichstag shall be by a two-thirds majority. Through such decision the Reich President is denied any further exercise of his office. The rejection of the recall motion by the popular referendum counts as a new election and results in the dissolution of the Reichstag. [. . . ]
ARTICLE 48
If any state does not fulfill the duties imposed upon it by the Constitution or the laws of the Reich, the Reich President may enforce such duties with the aid of the armed forces.
In the event that the public order and security are seriously disturbed or endangered, the Reich President may take the measures necessary for their restoration, intervening, if necessary, with the aid of the armed forces. For this purpose he may temporarily abrogate, wholly or in part, the fundamental principles laid down in Articles 114, 115, 117, 118, 123, 124, and 153.
The Reich President must, without delay, inform the Reichstag of all measures taken under Paragraph 1 or Paragraph 2 of this Article. The Reichstag may vote to annul these measures. [ . . . ]
ARTICLE 50
All orders and decrees of the Reich President, including those relating to the armed forces, must, in order to be valid, be countersigned by the Reich Chancellor or by the appropriate Reich Minister. Responsibility is assumed through the countersignature.
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ARTICLE 52
The Reich Cabinet consists of the Reich Chancellor and the Reich Ministers.
ARTICLE 53
The Reich Chancellor and, on his recommendation, the Reich Ministers, are appointed and dismissed by the Reich President.
ARTICLE 54
The Reich Chancellor and the Reich Ministers require for the exercise of their office the confidence of the Reichstag. Any one of them must resign if the Reichstag by formal resolution withdraws its confidence.
ARTICLE 55
The Reich Chancellor presides over the government of the Reich and conducts its affairs according to the rules of procedure laid down by the government of the Reich and approved by the Reich President.
ARTICLE 56
The Reich Chancellor determines the political program of the Reich and assumes responsibility to the Reichstag. Within this general policy each Reich Minister conducts independently the office entrusted to him and is held individually responsible to the Reichstag.
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