Citizens' Ministry

The "Citizens' Ministry" (Bürgerministerium) is a term used in a political debate, and later in historical literature. It also applies to the "Doctors' Ministry" (Doktorenministerium). They are used as summary descriptions for the four governments of the Austrian part of Austria-Hungary (Cisleithania), from 30 December 1867 to 4 April 1870, when the government tendered its resignation, and was dismissed on 12 April 1870. These were the initial administrations after the Austro-Hungarian Compromise (Ausgleich) of 1867 that divided the empire's internal administration.

These were the ministries of Prince Karl of Auersperg (30 December 1867 – 24 September 1868), Taaffe (24 September 1868 – 15 January 1870), Baron Ignaz von Plener (15 January 1870 – 1 February 1870), and Leopold Hasner von Artha (1 February 1870 – 12 April 1870), during which the composition of the cabinet changed slightly. Cabinet members were drawn mainly from the German-Liberal Party. The Citizens' Ministry pursued a liberal political agenda, but failed in 1870 due to their inability to adequately manage the tensions between the many nationalities. When Hasner refused Emperor Franz Josef I's request to dissolve the uncooperative regional Diet Assemblies, he resigned, bringing the Bürgerministerium to an end.

The term Bürgerministerium, which may be translated as "citizens' ministry" or "bourgeois ministry" (the German term Bürger should be understood in its double meaning: both citoyen and bourgeois), refers to four of the nine members of the Auersperg government. They were drawn from the bourgeoisie, rather than nobility, while Plener had been knighted eleven years earlier. The majority of ministers were therefore commoners, a novelty at the time.

The term "Doctors' Ministry" refers to the five members who had obtained doctorates. The other three (Auersperg, Taaffe and Plener) had law degrees. Thus the proportion of graduates among the ministers was very high, also a novelty.

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