Political Changes

20 January 1701

Dear Journal,

Just a couple of days ago Elector Frederick III upgraded the country from a duchy to a kingdom, and crowned himself King Frederick I. The country is an autocratic monarchy and will continue to be under King Frederick I's reign. After Prussia's constitution was put into place, a two-house parliament was issued. The lower house is called the Landtag which was elected by taxpayers, who were split into 3 classes according to the amount of taxes they each paid. This allows about one-third of the voters to choose 85% of the legislature. The upper house, is named the Prussian House of Lords, which is appointed by the king. The King has full executive power and ministers are responsible only to him. A result of this is that the landowning classes, remain unbroken, in the eastern provinces.