State Council of the German Democratic Republic
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This article is a rough translation from German. It may have been generated by a computer or by a translator without dual proficiency. Please help to enhance the translation. The original article is under "German" in the "languages" sidebar. |
The State Council of the German Democratic Republic (German: Staatsrat der DDR) was officially the highest organ of the German Democratic Republic, and for many years the collective president of the country (per Article 66 of the Constitution of East Germany), which was created by the law concerning the formation of the Council of State dated 12 September 1960 as a follow-up to the abolition of the office of the President of East Germany after the death of the only officeholder, Wilhelm Pieck.
As East Germany closely followed the Soviet Union, the organization and meaning of the Council of State changed to match prevailing Soviet ideas. As would be the case with a conventional president, the Council of Ministers was responsible to the Council of State.
In reality, the function of the head of state was exercised solely by the chairman of the Council of State, with the other members of the Council of State having practically no influence; for diplomatic reasons, a collective organ as head of state was problematic in any event.
The Council of State consisted of the chairman and its deputies as well as 16 members and a secretary. The members of the Council of State were elected by the Volkskammer for five years.
Per articles 66-75 of the Constitution of the GDR, the official responsibilities of the Council were to call elections to the Volkskammer, the appointment of the members of the National Defense Council of East Germany, grant pardons, amnesties and reprieves, promulgating laws, ratification of treaties, agreeing to ambassadors and granting awards.
The Council of State also granted awards to families with high birth rates. Resolutions of the Council of State took place by decree with legal power.
On 5 April 1990 the first (and last) legitimately elected Volkskammer amended the constitution, canceling Articles 66, et sq. and removing the Council of State. Since it was immediately planned to merge the GDR into the Federal Republic of Germany, the presidency of the GDR was devolved to the President of the Volkskammer. Therefore Sabine Bergmann-Pohl was, as the President of the Volkskammer, the last East German head of state from April 5 to October 2, 1990, when East Germany ceased to exist.
