State Council of Prussia (1817–1918)
After Prussia's defeat by Napoleon in the Battle of Jena–Auerstedt in 1806, the Prussian Reform Movement began with many areas based on the changes in France.
[1] Heinrich Friedrich Karl vom und zum Stein proposed the establishment of a State Council with an advisory and legislative function in the Nassau Memorandum (German: Nassauer Denkschrift and his draft ordinance of 24 November 1808 (which never came into effect).
The King's announcement in the Supreme Cabinet Order of 3 June 1814 "for the appointment of the Minister" that he wanted to put the Council of State into action after his return from Paris, but brings his order into connection with the question of the corporate constitution and representation, likely explains the delay in introduction until 1817.
The State Council had no decision-making authority, but voted for, or against, proposals and could make suggestions for changes.
On July 4, 1854, the full assembly of the State Council met in the Berlin Palace and the King inaugurated the members into office.
From 1854 onwards, he only called meetings of the Central Assembly; for the other members, membership in the State Council was purely an honor.
[5] After Hans von Kanitz introduced a bill in the Reichstag to monopolize grain imports and introduce minimum prices for grain, Kaiser Wilhelm II announced at the meeting of the State Ministry on 4 January 1895 that he would convene the State Council to discuss the bill.
Bismarck's participation was a constitutional problem because a legal question existed whether his membership expired when he left office or whether he was a member for life due to his appointment in 1854.
The then Imperial Chancellor and Prime Minister Chlodwig zu Hohenlohe-Schillingsfürst visited Bismarck at Kaiser Wilhelm II's request and declared that he would become Vice President of the State Council if he appeared (Wilhelm II himself wanted to chair the meetings).
The government considered a peer boost and presented lists of names to Kaiser Wilhelm II.
The 16 members of the State Council selected in this way, advised by 26 large agrarians and financial magnates, met from March 12 to 21 under the chairmanship of the Emperor.
