February Patent

In March 1860, the Emperor began a 'strengthening' of the Reichsrat, the imperial council, by adding new members and giving it advisory powers over major financial and legislative issues, including the formation of a new constitution.

In addition to continuing internal problems, the Austrian Empire was plagued by outside pressures, specifically the evolution of the German Confederation.

The members of the upper chamber were appointed for life and included the crown prince, prominent bishops, heads of noble families, and great citizens.

Delegates sent from the diets comprised the 343-member lower chamber, with 120 representatives from Hungary, 20 from Venetia, and 203 from the remaining non-Hungarian estates.

The February Patent explicitly excluded women from political participation, and established a census suffrage for men.

[1][2] The empire's Magyar population refused to cooperate in the new system, resiling from the more liberal changes made in the October Diploma which in fact still wanted to restrain the sovereignty of Hungary.

This resistance severely undermined the purpose of the Imperial Parliament—to unify the diverse parts of the empire through representation in a central body.

[3] The Austrian Germans protested, but the Czechs, Slavs, and Poles were delighted and pressed forward with their autonomous programs.