Every Land must have a liberal constitution.[14] The Representative Body must be elected by universal, equal, direct, and secret suffrage by all nationals of either sex, on the system of proportional representation.[15] The Government of the Lands must have the confidence of the Representative Body.[16]
The principles laid down for the election of the Representative Body apply also to the elections to Local Bodies. Nevertheless, Land legislation may require, as an elector's qualification, domicile within the locality not exceeding one year.[17]
Article 18.[18]
The division of the Realm into Lands shall have in view the highest economic and cultural progress of the People, while paying all possible regard to the wishes of the population affected. An act of the Realm in the form of a constitutional amendment is required for any modification of the frontiers of Federal States, or for the creation of new Lands within the Realm.
Where the Lands directly affected consent, a simple Act of the Realm shall suffice.
A simple act of the Realm shall further suffice where one of the Lands affected does not consent, but where the alteration of a frontier or the creation of a new Land is demanded by the wishes of the population and there is an overwhelming national interest in favour of it.
The wishes of the population shall be ascertained by means of a plebiscite. The Government of the Realm shall order a plebiscite to take place if one-third of the total number of those who have a vote for the Reichstag, living within the territory affected, demand it.
Three-fifths of the votes recorded, and at least a majority of the total number of electors, are necessary to determine any alteration of frontier or the foundation of a new Land. Even where there is only question of separating part of a Prussian county or of a Bavarian district, or of the corresponding divisions in any other Land, the wishes of the population inhabiting the whole district affected must be ascertained. Should there be no regional relationship between the portion to be disconnected and the whole district, a special act of the Realm may declare the wishes of the portion which is to be disconnected to be sufficient.
When the wishes of the population have been ascertained, the Government of the Realm shall embody them in an act for decision by the Reichstag.
Should any dispute arise on the occasion of a union or a separation of territory in respect of property claims, the decision shall lie with the Supreme National Court of Judicature of the whole Realm on appeal of either party.