The Reichstag is composed of the deputies of the German people.
The deputies are representatives of the whole people. They are subject to their conscience only and are not bound by instructions.
The deputies shall be elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage by those of either sex over twenty years of age, on the principles of proportional representation. The day of the election must be a Sunday or public holiday. An electoral law of the Realm shall lay down further detailed regulations.
The Reichstag shall be elected for four years. New elections must take place at latest within sixty days after the expiration of its term of office. The Reichstag must hold its first meeting at latest on the thirtieth day after election.
The Reichstag shall meet on the first Wednesday of November in every year at the seat of the Government. The President of the Reichstag is bound to call it together at an earlier date if the President of the Realm, or at least one-third of the deputies, demand it.
The Reichstag determines the date of the close of its session and the date of its reassembly.
The President of the Realm has power to dissolve the Reichstag, but may only do so once on the same ground.
New elections must be held at latest on the sixtieth day after the dissolution.
The Reichstag shall choose its own President, Vice-President, and Secretaries. It shall regulate its own procedure.
The business of the House between two sessions or between two election periods shall be conducted by the President of the Reichstag and the Vice-President holding office during the preceding session.
Disciplinary and police powers within the Reichstag building pertain to the President of the Reichstag. He also has the administration of the House. He has control of the income and expenditure of the House within the limits laid down by the national budget, and he represents the House in all the legal proceedings and legal business involved in its administration.
The sittings of the Reichstag are public. The public may be excluded on the demand of fifty deputies and by a two-thirds majority vote.
True reports of the proceedings at the public sittings of the Reichstag, of the proceedings at a Landtag, of the proceedings at Committees of the Reichstag or Landtag, are privileged matter.