At the same time, the influence of the parliament on those policy guidelines remained limited. Universal suffrage (for men) had been implemented already in the 1867 Reichstag election of the North German Confederation, but the MPs had few legislative powers.
Concurrently, the role of parliament in shaping those policy guidelines remained limited. Universal suffrage (for men) had been implemented earlier in the 1867 Reichstag election of the North German Confederation, and the MPs' ability to pass laws was restricted.