All public officials and those on military service must take the oath to this constitution. The President of the Realm shall make further provision.
Where the existing law prescribes the formula of oath in a religious form, an individual may also be legally sworn so as to omit the religious form by saying the words: I swear. In all other respects the legal oath remains unaffected.
The constitution of the German Realm, dated April 16th, 1871, and the act for the Provisional Government, dated February 10th, 1919, are repealed.
The remaining laws and ordinances of the Realm remain in force, in so far as consonant with this constitution. The conditions of the Peace Treaty signed at Versailles on June 28th, 1919, are not affected by this constitution.
Orders legally issued by the public authorities in virtue of previously existing laws remain valid until replaced by further orders or legislation.
In so far as reference is made in laws or ordinances to regulations or institutions abolished by this constitution, there shall be substituted therefor the corresponding regulations or institutions of this constitution. In particular the Reichstag shall be substituted for the National Assembly, the Reichsrat for the States' Committee, and for the President of the Realm, elected under the act for the Provisional Government, a President of the Realm elected in virtue of this Constitution.
The function of issuing ordinances pertaining to the States' Committee in virtue of previous regulations shall pass to the Government of the Realm; in issuing ordinances the Government of the Realm shall require the consent of the Reichsrat as laid down in this constitution.
Until the first Reichstag, the National Assembly shall count as Reichstag.[44] Until the first President of the Realm shall enter upon office, his functions shall be carried out by the President elected under the act for the Provisional Government.
The German nation has pronounced upon and passed this constitution through its National Assembly. It comes into force on the day of its proclamation.
(Signed) PRESIDENT EBERT. Ministers ERZBERGER, MULLER, DAVID NOSKE, SCHMIDT, SCHLICKE, GIESBERTS, MAYER, BELL.
[1] ART. 1.--The whole character of this Constitution is contained in this provision that the "Reich" is a republic. It was introduced in order to convey that new Germany, while retaining the ancient title and tradition of "Reich," had given it a new significance, and that thereby no concession was intended either to Monarchists or Imperialists or Militarists.