Editing History of Saxony-Anhalt (section)

== Political and religious structure of Anhalt in 1911 ==
As of 1911, Anhalt was divided into the districts of [[Dessau]], [[Köthen]], [[Zerbst]], [[Bernburg]] and [[Ballenstedt]], Bernburg being the most populous and Ballenstedt the least. Four towns – Dessau, Bernburg, Köthen, and Zerbst – had populations exceeding 20,000. The inhabitants of the former duchy, who mainly belonged to the upper [[Saxony|Saxon]] race, were, with the exception of about 12,000 [[Roman Catholic]]s and 1,700 [[Jew]]s, members of the [[Evangelical Church of the Union]]. The supreme ecclesiastical authority was the [[Consistory (Protestantism)|consistory]] in Dessau. A [[synod]] of 39 members, elected for six years, assembled periodically to deliberate on internal matters pertaining to the organization of the church. The Roman Catholics were under the [[bishop of Paderborn]].{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=45}}

By virtue of a fundamental law proclaimed on September 17, 1859, and subsequently modified by various [[decree]]s, the duchy was a [[constitutional monarchy]]. The duke bore the title of "Highness" and wielded the executive power while sharing [[legislation|legislative powers]] with the [[Estates of the realm|estates]]. The [[diet (assembly)|diet]] ([[Landtag]]) was composed of thirty-six members, of whom two were appointed by the duke, eight were representatives of landowners paying the highest taxes, two were chosen from among the highest assessed members of the commercial and manufacturing classes, fourteen were [[Voting|elector]]s of the towns and ten represented the rural districts.  These representatives were chosen for six years by indirect vote and had to be at least 25 years of age. The duke governed through a [[minister of state]], who was the head of all the departments: finance, home affairs, education, public worship, and statistics.{{sfn|Chisholm|1911|p=45}}