West German Constitutional Referendum, 1950 (Round 2)

[Peter the Lefty]

      Option 1: The President shall play a largely ceremonial role in public affairs, calling parliament into session and dissolving it (and only on the advice of the Chancellor).  The Bundestag will be responsible for electing the President (though one does not have to be an MP to be nominated for the office).  Presidential terms are to last seven years.  Should a President die in office or resign, the Bundestag will elect a successor within 60 days.  Whoever wins that election will serve out the remainder of his/her predecessor's term.  In the meantime, before the new President is elected, the Speaker of the Bundestag will become Acting President.  No sitting acting President can contest the permanent office.  Should the President prove to be guilty of high crimes, or become physically or mentally incapable of performing his/her actions, the Bundestag can vote to remove him/her by a 2/3 vote.  Should an attempted removal of a sitting President succeed, the procedure will be the same as that for a President's death in office or resignation.  The CDU, CSU, and FDP are backing this option vigorously. 

      Option 2: The President shall be elected by the people every four years in a two-round system.  Presidential terms are to last for four years, and a three-term limit is to be set on the office.  In addition, the President will have the power to veto legislation passed by Parliament (though the Parliament may override such a veto with a 2/3 vote in both Houses).  Executive orders can also be ordered by the President so long as they do not violate the Basic Laws.  In addition, the President can be impeached by the same Procedure as in Option 1.  In that instance, or in the instances wherein a President may die in office or resign, the Speaker of the Bundestag will automatically become Acting President, and a new Presidential election must be held within 90 days (both rounds of it).  Whoever wins it will again be considered a placeholder to finish out the term of his/her predecessor.  Again, no sitting Acting President may contest the office on a permanent basis.  The office of the Chancellor shall still exists, but whoever holds it shall be a number two to the President.  The SPD, KPD, and the far-right parties are supporting this proposal.

[Goldwater]

Option 2, although option 1 isn't bad either.

[Lief 🗽]

Option 2. I want President Schumacher! Also option 1 is basically real life Germany already.

[TNF]

Option 2. I want President Schumacher! Also option 1 is basically real life Germany already.

[Peter the Lefty]

Option 1 for me.  The real life German system is superior to any presidential system.

[H. Ross Peron]

CDU supporter but Option 2 for me

[Supersonic]

Option 1. Far safer, and normal for a parliamentary system.

[Antonio the Sixth]

Option 1. Parliamentarism FTW!

[Peter the Lefty]

A few more hours.

[Peter the Lefty]

Looks like Option 1 is the winner

[Supersonic]

Looks like Option 1 is the winner

Fabulous.