The Bundesrat
The Bundesrat (Federal Council) consisted of deputies from each of the states. The aristocratic ruler of the state (or elected official in the Free Cities) appointed deputies. With the exception of those three city republics, each of the German states were monarchies (though not all kingdoms) and aristocratic in nature. They were sovereign entities with the right to appoint representatives to the Bundesrat. As a result, again with the exception of the three republics, the members were delegates of the reigning princes. Imperial Germany was not a monarchy in theory, but an aristocratic polyarchy. There were 58 votes, as shown by Article 6 of the Constitution that stated,
The Federal Council shall consist of the representatives of the States of the Confederation, among whom the votes shall be divided in such a manner as that Prussia (including the former votes of Hanover, the Electoral-Hesse, Holstein, Nassau, and Frankfort am Main.) shall have 17 votes; Bavaria, 6 votes; Saxony, 4 votes; Württemberg, 4 votes; Baden, 3 votes; Hesse, 3 votes; Mecklenburg-Schwerin, 2 votes; Saxe-Weimar, 1 vote; Mecklenburg-Strelitz, 1 vote; Oldenburg, 1 vote; Brunswick, 2 votes; Saxe-Meiningen, 1 vote; Saxe-Altenburg, 1 vote; Saxe-Coburg-Gotha, 1 vote; Anhalt, 1 vote; Schwarzburg-Rudolstadt, 1 vote; Schwarzburg-Sondershausen, 1 vote; Waldeck, 1 vote; Reuss (Elder branch), 1 vote; Reuss (younger branch), 1 vote; Schaumburg-Lippe, 1 vote; Lippe, 1 vote; Lübeck, 1 vote; Bremen, 1 vote; Hamburg, 1 vote.
A couple of points are worth discussing on this division of votes. There was a constitutional amendment on 31 May 1911that admitted three representatives of Alsace-Lorraine, under certain circumstances. Prior to 1911, Alsace-Lorraine had been the province of the Empire and there was no representation in the Bundesrat. Once Alsace-Lorraine became a quasi-state in 1911, Prussia appointed the administration and therefore controlled the votes. Also, Waldeck had ceded its administration to Prussia as of 2 March 1887. That means there was an independent state of Waldeck but that Prussia controlled the vote.
The Bundesrat was generally conservative and not controversial for the Kaiser and other princely rulers. Prussia dominated, so if you controlled the Prussian provincial legislature you controlled the Bundesrat. While either house could introduce legislation, the imperial ministers originated the great majority of bills in the Bundesrat. The Kaiser could not introduce legislation; however, he could introduce bills through his Prussian delegates in the Bundesrat.