The Enabling Act, officially known as the Law to Remedy the Distress of People and Reich, was passed by the Reichstag in a heated session that followed the Reichstag Fire, which had occurred just weeks earlier. Hitler, now Chancellor of Germany since January, sought to consolidate his power by eliminating parliamentary opposition. His strategy included both persuasion and intimidation, as the Nazi Party used the political climate of fear following the fire to suppress dissent and win votes. The act allowed Hitler to enact laws without Reichstag consent, effectively sidelining the legislative body and paving the way for dictatorial governance.

On March 23, 1933, with the support of the German National People's Party and the Social Democratic Party’s absentees, the Enabling Act was passed with a vote of 444 to 94. Critically, however, the Communist Party was barred from participating in the vote, and many Social Democrats were either intimidated or coerced into compliance. This act transformed the German political landscape and was used to justify future laws that stripped away basic civil liberties, targeting political opponents and minority groups, particularly Jews.

The repercussions of the Enabling Act were vast and swift. It marked the end of the Weimar Republic and set the stage for the establishment of a totalitarian state. Subsequent legislation enacted by Hitler effectively centralized authority within the Nazi Party, dismantling the checks and balances vital to a democratic society. The legislative power became concentrated in the Executive, allowing Hitler to initiate policies that led to widespread militarization, persecution, and ultimately, the Second World War.