Editing German Empire (section)

====Law====
[[File:Meyers b18 s0533a.jpg|thumb|Crime; convicts in relation to the population, 1882–1886]]
Bismarck's efforts also initiated the levelling of the enormous differences between the German states, which had been independent in their evolution for centuries, especially with legislation. The completely different legal histories and judicial systems posed enormous complications, especially for national trade. While a common trade code had already been introduced by the [[German Confederation|Confederation]] in 1861 (which was adapted for the Empire and, with great modifications, is still in effect today), there was little similarity in laws otherwise.

In 1871, a common {{Ill|Reich criminal code|lt=criminal code |de|Reichsstrafgesetzbuch}} was introduced; in 1877, common court procedures were established in the court system by the {{Ill|courts constitution act|de|Gerichtsverfassungsgesetz}}, code of civil procedure ({{Lang|de|[[Zivilprozessordnung (Germany)|Zivilprozessordnung]]}}) and code of criminal procedure ({{Lang|de|{{Ill|Strafprozessordnung|de|Strafprozessordnung (Deutschland)|v=sup}}}}). In 1873 the constitution was amended to allow the Empire to replace the various and greatly differing Civil Codes of the states (If they existed at all; for example, parts of Germany formerly occupied by Napoleon's France had adopted the French Civil Code, while in Prussia the {{Lang|de|[[General State Laws for the Prussian States|Allgemeines Preußisches Landrecht]]}} of 1794 was still in effect). In 1881, a first commission was established to produce a common Civil Code for all of the Empire, an enormous effort that would produce the {{Lang|de|[[Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch]]}} (BGB), possibly one of the most impressive legal works in the world; it was eventually put into effect on 1 January 1900. All of these [[Codification (law)|codification]]s are, albeit with many amendments, still in effect today.{{citation needed|date=May 2025}}
<gallery widths=180>
Legal systems in 1895 Germany.png| Different legal systems in Germany prior to 1900
DR Fields of Law.png|Fields of law in the German Empire
</gallery>