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How did the Golden Bull of 1356 set rules for electing the emperor?

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Map of Europe about 800 CE showing the extent of the Frankish kingdom under Charlemagne in light purple, covering much of present-day France, Germany, northern Italy, and neighboring regions. Areas inhabited by Slavic peoples who were tributary to Charlemagne are shaded in a darker purple to the east of the Frankish kingdom, including groups such as the Bohemians, Moravians, and Croats. Major cities, rivers, and neighboring kingdoms are labeled for context.
Holy Roman Empire

The Golden Bull of 1356, promulgated by Charles IV, established a definitive framework for the election of the Holy Roman Empire ruler to prevent disputes and eliminate papal interference.1

Key rules for the election included:

  • Electoral College: The document formally identified the seven electorsā€”three ecclesiastical and four lay princesā€”responsible for the vote.1
  • Majority Rule: It decreed that a candidate elected by a majority was considered unanimously chosen, granting them immediate entitlement to royal rights.1
  • Succession and Stability: To ensure stability, the Bull established primogeniture for the electoral territories, mandated that these lands remain undivided, and attached the electoral vote to the possession of specific territories.1
  • Exclusion of Papal Authority: By designating the duke of Saxony and the count Palatine as regents during a vacancy, the Bull rejected the popeā€™s claim to act as vicar and ignored any papal authority to approve or examine candidates.1

These measures effectively centralized the election process within the German electoral college.1