"Lückentheorie" (, gap theory), is a term proposed by German jurist and politician Friedrich Julius Stahl. It was employed by Otto von Bismarck in order to resolve the constitutional conflict in Prussia from 1862-1866 with the Landtag in the favor of the King. The theory implied that when the Prussian Constitution of 1850 did not come to an agreement on the vote of the budget, there is a legal gap that can be filled by the "monarchical principle". The Lückentheorie affirms the King as the sole one with the power to decide on matters of the Constitution, and that the King could overrule Landtag
"Lückentheorie" (, gap theory), is a term proposed by German jurist and politician Friedrich Julius Stahl. It was employed by Otto von Bismarck in order to resolve the constitutional conflict in Prussia from 1862-1866 with the Landtag in the favor of the King. The theory implied that when the Prussian Constitution of 1850 did not come to an agreement on the vote of the budget, there is a legal gap that can be filled by the "monarchical principle". The Lückentheorie affirms the King as the sole one with the power to decide on matters of the Constitution, and that the King could overrule Landtag opposition. Since the Minister President of Prussia belonged to the royal government, as an extension of the King, he was by extension superior to the Landtag in case of conflict.
== Historical uses == In 1861, while the liberals dominated the Prussian parliament, a project of military reform was blocked by their opposition. With no conciliatory solution in sight, Otto von Bismarck decided to employ the Lückentheorie in order to circumvent the opposition of the parliament. He announced his decision in his famous "Blood and Iron" speech. He thereby declared:
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