10 questions · Politics
How is power organised, and who keeps it in check? A good starting point is the separation of powers, the principle associated with the philosopher Montesquieu in the 18th century: lawmaking, government and the courts are split between separate branches so that they can check one another. Most countries in the world today are a republic; a state whose head is elected rather than born into the role, a word that comes from the Latin 'res publica', 'the public matter'. Germany shows how such a system works in practice. Its constitution, the Basic Law of 1949, opens with the words 'Human dignity shall be inviolable', and some of its basic rights are protected by an 'eternity clause'. Laws are passed by the Bundestag, the parliament elected by the people, which also elects the chancellor. Across the Atlantic, a US presidential term lasts four years, and since 1951 the constitution has limited presidents to two terms. Beyond national borders, states have built alliances and institutions. The European Union unites 27 member states in a common single market, and many of them share a single currency, the euro, the second most important currency in the world after the US dollar. NATO (the North Atlantic Treaty Organization, founded in 1949) rests on mutual defence: an attack on one member counts as an attack on all, a clause invoked only once, after the attacks of 11 September 2001. And the United Nations, founded in 1945 and headquartered in New York, tries to keep the peace through its Security Council, where five permanent members (the USA, Russia, China, Britain and France) can each block a decision with their veto.
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27
The EU is a union of 27 European states with a common single market and many shared rules. Most of them use the euro.
💡 Did you know? With Brexit, in 2020 a country left the EU for the first time: the United Kingdom.
New York
The UN's headquarters is in New York. Founded in 1945, the organisation aims to keep peace, promote human rights and organise international cooperation.
💡 Did you know? The UN site in New York lies on US soil but is inviolable: US authorities may enter it only with the UN's consent.
North Atlantic Treaty Organization
NATO is a military alliance of Western states, founded in 1949. Its core is mutual defence: an attack on one member counts as an attack on all.
💡 Did you know? This defence clause (Article 5) has been invoked only once: after the 11 September 2001 attacks.
Bundestag
The Bundestag is Germany's parliament, elected by the people. It passes laws, elects the chancellor and holds the government to account.
💡 Did you know? It is one of the largest freely elected parliaments in the world.
separation of powers
The separation of powers splits state power between legislature, executive and judiciary so they check one another. This makes abuse of power harder.
💡 Did you know? The principle goes back to the philosopher Montesquieu in the 18th century.
Basic Law
The Basic Law of 1949 is Germany's constitution. Right at the start come the basic rights, beginning with 'Human dignity shall be inviolable'.
💡 Did you know? Some basic rights are considered unchangeable: protected by the 'eternity clause'.
four years
A term of the US president lasts four years. One may be elected at most twice, so govern for a maximum of eight years.
💡 Did you know? The two-term limit was added to the constitution only in 1951.
five
Five states are permanent members of the UN Security Council: the USA, Russia, China, Britain and France. Each can block decisions by veto.
💡 Did you know? This veto power often leaves the Council unable to act in major conflicts.
euro
The euro is the shared currency of most EU states: the eurozone. After the US dollar it is the second most important currency in the world.
💡 Did you know? Not all EU countries use it; some deliberately kept their own currency.
republic
In a republic the head of state is elected and does not rule by birth like a king. Most countries in the world are republics today.
💡 Did you know? 'Republic' comes from the Latin 'res publica' = 'the public matter'.
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