Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution

Article 48 of the Weimar Constitution granted the German President emergency powers to take action without prior parliamentary approval. Specifically, it allowed the President to suspend civil liberties, such as freedom of speech and assembly, and to rule by decree in situations deemed to threaten public security or order. This provision was intended to protect the nation during crises but was also prone to abuse, as it enabled the President to bypass democratic processes and rule unilaterally, which contributed to political instability and authoritarian tendencies in Germany.