Februarpatent

February Patent, a constitution drawn up by State Minister A. v. Schmerling, enacted throughout the Austrian Empire by Emperor Franz Joseph on February 26, 1861 amending the Oktoberdiplom of October 20, 1860 and forming the basis for a constitutional government. The February Patent divided the legislative branch of government between the Crown and two houses of the Reichsrat. The parliamentary deputies were elected by the legislative assemblies in the provinces (Landtage). Landtage were formed after the enactment of a decree allowing assemblies in the provinces. As Hungary and, at first, Galicia opposed the February Patent on the grounds that it was too centralist, it did not take effect throughout the empire and was suspended on September 20, 1865. Later it would form the basis for the constitution of 1867 for the Western half of the Austrian empire.