9 questions · Politics
Germany's system of government was designed after 1945 with a clear lesson in mind: power should be spread out and checked. The rules are set down in the constitution, which is modestly called the Basic Law. At the top stands the Federal President, the head of state, who signs laws and represents the country abroad but has mainly ceremonial duties, and is chosen not by the people but by the specially convened Federal Convention. Day-to-day politics is led by the Federal Chancellor, who sets the guidelines of policy and can only be removed by a 'constructive vote of no confidence', in which a successor is elected at the same time. The Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag, which meets in the Reichstag building in Berlin. Rebuilt after reunification and crowned with a walkable glass dome, the building made headlines in 1995 when Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped it in silvery fabric. Members of the Bundestag are elected for four years, and every voter has two votes: the first for a constituency candidate, the second (the decisive one for the balance of seats) for a party. Anyone who is a German citizen aged 18 or over may take part; until 1970 the voting age was 21. Alongside the Bundestag, the Bundesrat gives the 16 federal states a say in national law-making, with three to six votes per state depending on population. And watching over all of them is the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, which can strike down laws that breach the constitution, and to which even individual citizens can turn with a constitutional complaint.
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Federal President
The Federal President is the head of state but has mainly ceremonial duties. He signs laws and represents Germany abroad.
💡 Did you know? He is elected not by the people but by the specially convened Federal Convention.
Federal Chancellor
The Federal Chancellor leads the government and sets the guidelines of policy. He is elected by the Bundestag, not directly by the people.
💡 Did you know? He can only be removed by a 'constructive vote of no confidence': by electing a successor at the same time.
two
In a federal election you have two votes: the first for a candidate in your constituency, the second for a party. The second vote decides the distribution of seats.
💡 Did you know? That's why the second vote is the more important one for the balance of power in the Bundestag.
Reichstag
The Bundestag meets in the Reichstag building in Berlin. After reunification it was rebuilt and crowned with a walkable glass dome.
💡 Did you know? In 1995 the artists Christo and Jeanne-Claude wrapped the whole building in silvery fabric.
Bundesrat
In the Bundesrat the 16 federal states take part in the federation's law-making. Many laws require its approval.
💡 Did you know? Depending on population, the states have between three and six votes each.
18
You may vote for the Bundestag if you are at least 18 and a German citizen. For some local and European elections the age is now 16.
💡 Did you know? Until 1970 the voting age in Germany was 21.
Federal Constitutional Court
The Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe guards compliance with the Basic Law and can declare laws unconstitutional. It is Germany's highest court on constitutional matters.
💡 Did you know? Individual citizens can also bring a case there with a 'constitutional complaint'.
four years
The Bundestag is elected for four years; then new elections are held. In exceptional cases it can also be dissolved earlier.
💡 Did you know? Early elections have happened only a few times in the Federal Republic.
Basic Law
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