Date and Context: Enacted on March 23, 1933, in Germany during the Weimar Republic.
Purpose: Allowed Adolf Hitler and his Cabinet to enact laws without Reichstag approval, effectively giving them legislative power.
Legal Basis: It modified the Weimar Constitution, bypassing democratic processes.
Duration: Initially set for four years, it was later extended indefinitely.
Impact on Democracy: Enabled the Nazi Party to consolidate power rapidly and dismantle democratic institutions.
Scope of Power: Allowed for laws that could deviate from the constitution, leading to widespread political repression and the establishment of a totalitarian regime.
Political Repression: Facilitated the arrest and elimination of political opponents, including Communists and Socialists.
Legacy: Marked a crucial step in the establishment of a dictatorship and the beginning of Nazi rule in Germany.