It established a state parliament consisting of a landtag of 21 deputies elected for a term of four years by universal suffrage.

For nearly the entire Weimar period, the State Presidency consisted of coalition governments but the chairmanship almost always was held by a Social Democrat.

Nazi propaganda efforts tried to exploit this by presenting it as a great triumph in the lead-up to national Reichstag elections on 5 March.

After the war, Lippe was part of the British occupation zone and the state government was restored under the last SPD leader before the Nazi take-over.

The British established a number of military bases in North Rhine-Westphalia, of which Detmold (HQ and units of 20th Armoured Brigade) and Lemgo (infantry battalion barracks) were located within the former boundaries of the Free State of Lippe.