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In the Reichstag election of January 1912, voters turned against the militarism of the right-wing parties. The number of seats held by the Social Democratic Party more than doubled from 43 to 110 (out of a total of 397). For the first time, the three left-of-center parties, namely the Social Democrats (110), Center Party (91), and the Progressive People's Party (42), together secured a working majority. The Center Party is the precursor of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's post-World War II conservative movement. The PPP is the precursor of the modern Free Democrats.

In the Reichstag election of January 1912, voters turned against the militarism of the right-wing parties. The number of seats held by the Social Democratic Party more than doubled from 43 to 110 (out of a total of 397). For the first time, the three left-of-center parties, namely the Social Democrats (110), Center Party (91), and the Progressive People's Party (42), together secured a working majority. The Center Party is the precursor of the Christian Democratic Union, Germany's post-World War II conservative movement. The PPP is the precursor of the modern Free Democrats.

The Social Democrats demanded reform of the "three-tier" method of voting used in the Prussian state elections. Prussia was by far the largest of the German states at this time. In peacetime, Germany's main army answered to Prussia, and to Wilhelm as Prussian king. Three-tiered voting meant that the Prussian government was dominated by the junkers, conservative landowners who lived east of Elbe. Agricultural was the least efficient sector of the German economy at this time, so a voting system based on agricultural wealth was anachronistic.

The Social Democrats demanded reform of the "three-tier" method of voting used in the Prussian state elections. Prussia was by far the largest of the German states at this time. In peacetime, Germany's main army was Prussian and answered to Wilhelm as Prussian king. Three-tiered voting meant that the Prussian parliament was dominated by the junkers, conservative landowners who lived east of Elbe. Agricultural was the least efficient sector of the German economy at this time, so a voting system based on agricultural wealth was anachronistic.

In June 1913, a dramatic expansion of the army was approved with the support of deputies of the Center, the National Liberals, and the Radicals.<ref name=ArmyExpand>"[http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/5th-july-1913/10/on-monday-the-reichstag-passed-the-new-german-army On Monday the Reichstag passed the new German Army Bill]", ''Spectator'', July 5, 1913.</ref>

In June 1913, the Reichstag approved a dramatic expansion of the army with the support of deputies of the Center, the National Liberal, and Radical parties.<ref name=ArmyExpand>"[http://archive.spectator.co.uk/article/5th-july-1913/10/on-monday-the-reichstag-passed-the-new-german-army On Monday the Reichstag passed the new German Army Bill]", ''Spectator'', July 5, 1913.</ref>

In December 1913, lawmakers revolted and voted no confidence in Bethmann, an episode called the Zabern Affair.<ref>There was public outrage in response to abuses by a military officer in the Alsacian town of Zabern. On December 4, 1913, the Reichstag voted no confidence in Bethmann by a margin of 293 to 54. Under the German constitution, the emperor had exclusive authority over appointments. But if the budget had been rejected, Bethmann might have been forced out of office. In the end, only the Social Democrats (110 seats) and the Polish Party (18 seats) voted against the budget. Germany had failed to take advantage of its best chance to achieve parliamentary democracy and head off war.</ref> However, Bethmann's position, along with army expansion, were confirmed when the Reichstag meekly passed the annual budget on December 9. Only the Social Democrats and the Polish Party voted against.

In December 1913, lawmakers revolted and voted no confidence in Bethmann, an episode called the Zabern Affair.<ref>There was public outrage in response to abuses by a military officer in the Alsacian town of Zabern. On December 4, 1913, the Reichstag voted no confidence in Bethmann by a margin of 293 to 54. Under the German constitution, the emperor had exclusive authority over appointments. But if the budget had been rejected, Bethmann might have been forced out of office. In the end, only the Social Democrats (110 seats) and the Polish Party (18 seats) voted against the budget. Germany had failed to take advantage of its best chance to achieve parliamentary democracy and head off war.</ref> However, Bethmann's position, along with army expansion, were confirmed when the Reichstag meekly passed the annual budget on December 9. Only the Social Democrats and the Polish Party voted against.