Editing Vice-Chancellor of Germany (section)

== History ==
{{Politics of Germany}}
Such an office was initially established by the 1878 {{Lang|de|Stellvertretungsgesetz}} (Deputation Act), which provided for the imperial chancellor appointing a deputy, officially known as {{Lang|de|Allgemeiner Stellvertreter des Reichskanzlers}} (General Deputy to the Imperial Chancellor). In addition to the general deputy, who could sign for all the affairs of the chancellor, the chancellor could appoint deputies with limited responsibilities. The act was revised on 28 October 1918, when the possibility of appointing deputies with limited responsibilities was removed and the vice-chancellor was given the right to appear before parliament.<ref>{{Cite web|url=http://www.documentarchiv.de/ksr/1878/reichskanzler-stellvertretung_ges.html|title=Gesetz, betreffend die Stellvertretung des Reichskanzlers ["Stellvertretungsgesetz"] (17.03.1878)|website=www.documentarchiv.de|language=German|access-date=2019-08-26}}</ref>

In the Weimar Republic, the office was considered less important. It was not even mentioned in the constitution. Usually it was held by the minister of justice or the interior. The most known office holder is [[Franz von Papen]], a former chancellor who formed a coalition government of national socialists and conservatives. [[Adolf Hitler]] became chancellor, and Papen vice-chancellor. It became soon obvious that the position of vice-chancellor provided no powers and was unsuited to constrain Hitler. Papen was convinced that him being trusted by president Hindenburg made him an important political player; soon, Hindenburg's trust went from Papen to Hitler.

In the Federal Republic (since 1949), the chancellors have had no interest in allowing the deputy to use the title for self-promotion.<ref>Roman Herzog, in: Maunz/Dürig: Kommentar zum Grundgesetz, 2008, Art. 69, Rn. 9.</ref> Since 1966 it became customary that the coalition partner of the governing party received the ministry of foreign affairs, who was also appointed deputy. The ministry of foreign affairs was considered to be the most important cabinet post besides the chancellorship. This tradition faded away during the [[Chancellorship of Angela Merkel|tenure of Angela Merkel]], partially because the leaders of her coalition partners chose a different ministry.