Vice-Chancellor of Germany

The Vice-Chancellor of Germany (Vizekanzler) in Germany is the second highest position in the cabinet, at least according to the protocol.

In case of the Chancellor's absence, the Vice-Chancellor acts in his place, for instance heading cabinet meetings. The Vice-Chancellor will not automatically become Chancellor for the rest of the term if the Chancellor dies or becomes unable to fulfill his duties in any other way. It is the Federal President who asks a Minister to fulfill the Chancellor's duties until the Federal Parliament elects a new Chancellor. Usually, the Federal President asks the Vice-Chancellor.

The Vice-Chancellor is not an independent office, but a Cabinet minister, often as Minister of Foreign Affairs (see below for exception).

Officially, it is the Chancellor who elects the Vice-Chancellor. Since coalition governments are usual in German politics, the Vice-Chancellor in most cases represents the junior coalition partner and is often the chairman of that party.

[edit] Term

The prefix "Vize-" is derived from the Latin "vicis" meaning "in place of". "Kanzler" is the traditional title of the head of government in Germany.

The proper term is in fact not Vizekanzler, although this word is generally used. The German constitution (Basic Law) in article 69 calls him the Stellvertreter des Bundeskanzlers (representative, deputy).

[edit] List of Vice-Chancellors

[edit] Deutsches Reich 1871-1945

[edit] Allgemeiner Stellvertreter des Reichskanzlers (Deputy General to the Chancellor)

• Graf Otto zu Stolberg-Wernigerode, 1 June 1878 - 20 June 1881.
• Karl Heinrich von Boetticher, 20 June 1881 - 1 July 1897, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Arthur Graf von Posadowsky-Wehner, 1 July 1897 - 24 June 1907, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Theobald von Bethmann Hollweg, 24 June 1907 - 14 July 1909, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Clemens von Delbrück, 14 July 1909 - 22 May 1916, also Secretary of the Interior.
• Karl Helfferich, 22 May 1916 - 9 November 1917, also Secretary of the Interior (until 23 October 1917).
• Friedrich von Payer (FVP), 9 November 1917 - 10 November 1918.

[edit] Vice-Chancellor

• Eugen Schiffer (DDP), 13 February - 19 April 1919 (as Deputy Minister-President); also Minister of Finances.
• Bernhard Dernburg (DDP), 30 April - 20 June 1919 (as Deputy Minister-President); also Minister of Finances.
• Matthias Erzberger (Centre Party), 21 June - 3 October 1919 (until 14 August 1919 as Deputy Minister-President); also Minister of Finances.
• Eugen Schiffer (DDP), 3 October 1919 - 27 March 1920; also Minister of Justice.
• Erich Koch-Weser (DDP), 27 March 1920 - 21 June 1920; also Minster of the Interior.
• Rudolf Heinze (DVP), 25 June 1920 - 4 May 1921; also Minister of Justice.
• Gustav Bauer (SPD), 10 May 1921 - 14 November 1922; also Minister of the Treasury.

vacant 1922-1923

• Robert Schmidt (SPD), 13 August 1923 - 3 November 1923; also Minister for Reconstruction.
• Karl Jarres (DVP), 30 November 1923 - 15 December 1924; also Minister of the Interior.

vacant 1925-1927

• Oskar Hergt (DNVP), 28 January 1927 - 12 June 1928; also Minister of Justice.

vacant 1928-1930

• Hermann R. Dietrich (DDP, later DStP), 30 March 1930 - 30 May 1932; also Minister of Finances since 26 June 1930.

vacant 1932-1933

• Franz von Papen (non-partisan), 30 January 1933 - 7 August 1934; no government department.

After Papen's resignation, the office of Vice-Chancellor remained vacant until the demise of the Third Reich.

[edit] Federal Republic of Germany