Constitution of the German Confederation (1871)

This is a slightly changed version of the Constitution of the North German Confederation; it is not to be confused with the constitutional laws of the German Confederation of 1815.

The new constitution appeared on 31 December 1870 in the Bundesgesetzblatt des Norddeutschen Bundes (North German Federal Law Gazette) and came into effect the following day.

They included for the first time the South German states, also Württemberg and Bavaria.

For example the number of delegates to the Federal Council were adjusted.

The North German Confederation was renamed, and some of its organs received a new title.

First page of the Bundesgesetzblatt des Deutschen Bundes , 27 January 1871: Emperor Wilhelm issues new elections to the Reichstag .