State and Constitutional Order from 1818

The Kingdom of Bavaria was a constitutional monarchy. State life was thus dominated by the king. However, he could not act unrestrictedly, but only within the range of powers assigned to him by the constitution. So the king himself was a constitutional body. He was not above the state, but part of the state.

The Constitution of 1818 also provided the framework for all other areas of public life in the kingdom. It determined the participation of the subjects in the legislation, regulated the structure of the administration of state and municipalities and created the basis for religious life and ecclesiastical activities within the state. The military was integrated into the constitutional system as a conscript army. In addition, the constitution issued a catalogue of basic privileges and obligations that every Bavarian citizen was entitled to. However, the Constitution of 1818 also recognised privileged groups, above all the nobility. They were granted special rights and benefits and, in return, as a leading class they were to support the new governmental system in a special way.

As the legal basis and as the standard representing the interest of the state for the Kingdom of Bavaria, the constitutional charter itself became a symbol in the form of the magnificent manuscript volume of documents. As such, the constitutional charter enjoyed a special status within the framework of the state ceremony. It was given its own receptacle and was presented at the opening ceremonies of the state parliament. Finally, the constitutional charter could not be missing in the official portraits of the Bavarian kings.

The constitution of 1818 remained valid until the revolution of 1918. The new form of government of the Free State of Bavaria then created a democratic constitution for itself.