ined, these
stipulations comprising, in effect, so many projected amendments of
the original constitution of the _Bund_.[282] At the initiative of the
Emperor there was prepared, early in 1871, a revised draft of this
constitution, and in it were incorporated such modifications as were
rendered necessary by the adhesion of the southern states and the
creation of the Imperial title. March 31 the Reichstag was convened in
Berlin and before it was laid forthwith the constitutional _projet_,
to which the Bundesrath had already given its assent. April 14 the
instrument was approved by the popular chamber, and two days later it
was promulgated as the supreme law of the land.

[Footnote 282: The first three of these treaties
were concluded at Versailles; the fourth was signed
at Berlin.]

*212. Contents of the Instrument.*--As it came from the hands of its
framers, the new constitution comprised a judicious amalgamation of
the various fundamental documents that have been mentioned, i.e., the
constitution of the Confederation and the treaties. Within the (p. 203)
scope of its seventy-eight articles most subjects which are dealt with
ordinarily in such instruments find ample place: the nature and extent
of the legislative power; the composition, organization, and procedure
of the legislative chambers; the privileges and powers of the
executive; the adjustment of disputes and the punishment of offenses
against the national authority; the process of constitutional
amendment. It is a peculiarity of the German constitution, however,
that it contains elaborate provisions relating to a variety of things
concerning which constitutions, as a rule, are silent. There is an
extended section upon customs and commerce; another upon railways;
another upon posts and telegraphs; another upon navigation; another
upon finance; and an especially detailed one relating to the military
organization of the realm. In part, the elaboration of these
essentially legislative subjects within the constitution was
determined by the peculiarly federal character of the Empire, by which
was entailed the necessity of a minute enumeration of powers. In a
greater measure, however, it arose from the underlying purpose of
Bismarck and of William I. to smooth the way for the conversion of
Germany into the premier militant power of Europe. Beyond a guarantee
of a common citizenship for all Germany and of eq