August 1867 North German federal election explained

Election Name:August 1867 North German federal election
Country:North German Confederation
Type:parliamentary
Ongoing:no
Previous Election:February 1867 North German federal election
Next Election:1868 Zollparlament election
Next Year:1868
Seats For Election:All 297 seats in the Reichstag
Majority Seats:149
Image1:Rudolf_von_Bennigsen.jpg
Leader1:Rudolf von Bennigsen
Party1:National Liberal Party (Germany)
Leader Since1:1867
Last Election1:20.19%, 78 seats
Seats1:80
Seat Change1: 2
Percentage1:18.02%
Swing1: 2.17pp
Party2:Conservative Party (Prussia)
Last Election2:16.86%, 63 seats
Seats2:66
Seat Change2: 3
Popular Vote2:
Percentage2:20.92%
Swing2: 4.06pp
Image3: DRP
Leader3:Eduard Georg von Bethusy-Huc
(nominal)
Party3:Free Conservative Party
Leader Since3:1866
Last Election3:9.33%, 39 seats
Seats3:36
Seat Change3: 3
Percentage3:8.95%
Swing3: 0.38pp
Image4:Benedikt Waldeck (IZ 54-1870 S 445).jpg
Leader4:Benedict Waldeck
Party4:German Progress Party
Leader Since4:1867
Last Election4:7.40%, 19 seats
Seats4:32
Seat Change4: 13
Percentage4:12.64%
Swing4: 5.24pp
Image5:Seib, Jacob - Georg von Vincke, Abgeordneter des 13. Westfälischen Wahlbezirks, Frankfurt (Zeno Fotografie).jpg
Color5:008000
Leader5:Georg von Vincke
Party5:Old Liberals
Leader Since5:1858
Last Election5:7.12%, 31 seats
Seats5:15
Seat Change5: 16
Percentage5:4.69%
Swing5: 2.43pp
Image6: Polen
Party6:Polish Party
Last Election6:5.61%, 13 seats
Seats6:11
Seat Change6: 2
Percentage6:7.35%
Swing6: 1.70pp
Map Size:450px
President of the Reichstag
Before Election:Eduard von Simson
Before Party:Independent politician
Posttitle:President of the Reichstag after election
After Election:Eduard von Simson
After Party:Independent politician

Elections to the Reichstag of the North German Confederation were held on 31 August 1867,[1] with run-off elections during the following weeks. The National Liberal Party continued to serve as the largest party, winning 81 seats. These were the first regular and last elections during the North German Confederation. In July 1870 the Reichstag members decided not to hold new elections during the Franco-Prussian war, in spite of the three-year period.

Electoral system

The North German Confederation were divided into 297 single-member electoral constituencies, of which 236 were in Prussia. All men over the age of 25 and not in receipt of public assistance were eligible to vote.

Notes and References

  1. Jonathan Steinberg (2011) Bismarck: A Life, Oxford University Press