1949 · Constitutions

German Basic Law (Grundgesetz)

Germany

Germany's post-war constitution. It begins with the inviolability of human dignity and set up a powerful Federal Constitutional Court.

Why it matters

It is regarded as one of the most influential constitutions of the 20th century, a model for Spain, South Africa and many newer democracies.

Built on

1919

Weimar Constitution

Germany

designed to avoid the weaknesses of the Weimar system

1920

Austrian Federal Constitution

Austria

adopted the model of a separate constitutional court

Went on to shape

1978

Spanish Constitution

Spain

borrowed ideas on rights and the constitutional court

1996

Constitution of South Africa

South Africa

dignity as a founding value and a constitutional court

Counting texts that borrowed from the texts that borrowed from this one, 3 later texts on this timeline trace back to it.

Countries in the Legal Families Atlas

Germany

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TheLawToKnow Tools’s timeline lists links of influence only where the borrowing is widely documented. Historians sometimes disagree about how much one text shaped another. It is an educational overview, not legal advice.