 The Grand Dukes exercised absolute power through their ministers, with an antiquated type of diet representing social classes.It met for a short session each year, and at other times was represented by a committee consisting of the proprietors of knights' estates (), known as the "Ritterschaft", and of the "Landschaft", which was composed of burgomasters of selected towns.There was now a renewal of agitation for a more democratic constitution, and the German Reichstag gave some countenance to this movement.