[1] It was the 17th constitutional amendment to the Basic Law, adding emergency clauses to ensure the federal government's ability to act in crises such as natural disasters, uprisings or war.
On 30 May, when the law was voted on, the FDP was the only party to stand firm against their introduction.
[4] The laws came into effect on 28 June 1968, marking the end of the special powers the Allied forces had been given over Germany in the Statute of Occupation of 21 September 1949.
The passing of the Emergency Acts was preceded by fierce domestic political debates, which contributed to the establishment of the APO ("Außerparlamentarische Opposition", lit.
A state of emergency can come into effect when an external threat impedes a normal democratic decision-making process.