Goerdeler's proposed constitution called for a strong executive, a high degree of decentralisation, a "Reichstag" elected partially by the people on a British-style "first-past-the-post" basis (instead of by party lists) and partially by members of local councils, and a "Reichsrat" composed of representatives nominated by Christian churches, trade unions, universities, and business groups. To assist with the drafting of the future constitution, Goerdeler enlisted the help, through his friend Dietrich Bonhoeffer, of the so-called "Freiburger Kreis" (Freiburg Circle), an anti-Nazi discussion group of professors at Freiburg University founded in 1938 that included , , Walter Eucken, Constantin von Dietze, and Gerhard Ritter. Had the July 20 Plot succeeded, Goerdeler would have served as Chancellor in the new government that would have been formed after Hitler's assassination and the overthrow of the Nazi regime. In August 1941, Goerdeler was most disappointed with the Atlantic Charter. He felt that the demands contained in Clause 8, calling for the disarmament of Germany, would make both the task of recruiting the German Army to overthrowing the regime more difficult and were unacceptable since Goerdeler believed in maintaining a strong military. Starting in 1941, Goerdeler expanded his network of anti-Nazi contacts to include Social Democrats like Wilhelm Leuschner and Hermann Maas.