Pursuant to the provisions set up by the First Reich Congress of Councils (16 Dec 1918 - 21 Dec 1918), the German National Constituent Assembly (Verfassungsgebende Deutsche Nationalversammlung) was chosen in the course of elections held on 19 Jan 1919 and 2 Feb 1919. Prior to the day, when the representatives of German lands constituted themselves as National Assembly, the Central Council formally relinquished to this body all its authority (4 Feb 1919) [2] empowering it to adopt a new constitution for the German Reich. Trying to avoid political pressure and outside influence, the assembly convened, not in Berlin, but in Weimar on 6 Feb 1919 chaired by the eldest deputy, Wilhelm Pfannkuch. On the next day (7 Feb 1919), Eduard David was elected president of the Assembly and delegates began deliberations, which soon resulted in issuing a provisional constitution (Gesetz über die vorläufige Reichsgewalt). On 11 Feb 1919 the assembly elected Friedrich Ebert as Reich President. It took almost half a year to draft the Constitution of German Reich promulgated by Ebert on 11 Aug 1919. The new basic law went into force on 14 Aug 1919 and marked the beginning of the so-called Weimar Republic (1919-1933). The National Constituent Assembly continued to work in Berlin until its mandate expired on 24 Jun 1920 with the seating of the first Reichstag, but held its last session on 21 May 1920.