Political system in Germany

The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social federal state. The Constitution of the
Federal Republic of Germany is called the Basic Law. The basic law mentions the central citizenship
and human rights. These rights are summarized in the first 19 articles of the Basic Law. The
structure of the political system and the central features of the political system are described.

The Principles of the Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany:

Human dignity (The first article in the Basic Law)

Democracy: 'The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social federal state. All power
goes from the people. (Article 20 of the Basic Law) Citizens elect their representatives. These
representatives represent the interests of citizens in Parliament.
Rechtsstaat: The Federal Republic of Germany is a state of law. In a state of law independent judges
guard the observance of the laws. Politics is also bound by law.

Federal state (structure in 16 Lnder): Germany consists of 16 independent federal lands. In a

federal state the political power is divided between the Confederation and the Lnder. Political
decisions are therefore made not only for the whole of Germany (the Bundese plane), but also for
the federal lands (Landesebene). The Federal Council represents the interests of the state
governments at federal level. The Basic Law regulates the distribution of tasks between the
Federation and the Lnder.

Social state: The state is obliged to shape the social conditions of a country. This includes economic
policy activities (the development of the economy is possible, the reduction of unemployment). The
state is also responsible for social measures (minimum allowance, unemployment allowance, family
allowance). Care facilities are designed to protect people in old age, illness or accidents (social
insurance, health insurance, pension). The aim of social policy is the creation of social justice.
The division of powers (Legislative, Executive, Judicative)

The Basic Law can only be amended by a two-thirds majority of Members of the Bundestag and the
Federal Council. The Federal Constitutional Court examines whether the German Constitution is
complied with.
The three levels of the political system in Germany:

The Legislative = the Legitimate Violence

The executive = power the executive power
The Judiciary = the right-handed violence

The actors of the political system in Germany

a. Parliament: Parliament consists of two areas: the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
The Bundestag decides on the Federal Law, elects the Federal Chancellor and is part of the Federal
Assembly, which elects the Federal President. Currently (March 2016), 630 deputies are sitting in
the Bundestag. The Bundestag is elected every 4 years. The head of the Bundestag is at the top.
Only parties receiving at least 5% of the votes are sent to Parliament (five percent).

The Bundestag has its seat in Berlin since 1999, between 1949 and 1999 was the seat of office in
Bonn.

The Federal Council is the representation of the 16 federal states. The interests of the federal lands
should thus be represented at the federal level. The members of the Federal Council are sent by the
federal governments of the federal states. Each state receives three to six votes according to the
number of its inhabitants in the Federal Council.

The Federal Assembly consists of members of the Bundestag and the Federal Council. The most
important task is the election of the Federal President.

b. The Federal President is the head of the German government.

Main task: He represents the Federal Republic of Germany in Germany and the world (eg in
public events, speeches, receptions or state visits). He proposes to the Federal Chancellor to be
elected, he appoints and dismisses the Chancellor, he appoints and dismisses the Federal
Ministers, he can dissolve the Federal Council.

The Federal President is elected by the Federal Assembly for 5 years and can be re-elected for a
second term of office. Any German citizen with a minimum age of 40 is eligible.
c.The Federal Government: The Federal Government is the head of the executive branch in
Germany. It consists of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers, which together form the
Federal Cabinet. The Federal Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag.
The Federal Chancellor is the head of the federal government. He determined and dismissed the
Federal Ministers. The vice-chancellor represents the Federal Chancellor.
The Federal Minister heads a ministry responsible for a topic / department.

In Germany there are usually coalition governments in which at least two parties form the
government. Before the formation of the government there are coalition negotiations. The parties
agree on a common political line and the distribution of ministries / departments. A grand coalition
marks a government between the two largest parties in Parliament. In Germany this is currently a
coalition between the CDU / CSU and the SPD.

Each state has its own governmental system. The governments of the Lnder have influence over
federal policy through the Federal Council. The parliaments of the countries are called land-days.
The Federal Government's government minister is called the Prime Minister.

d. Jurisprudence: In order for the political system to be controlled, there are courts and judges. The
Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe checks whether the Basic Law is complied with.

The elections and the right to vote in Germany

Elections are a core element of democracy. They are the direct possibility of political participation
and influence.

General: All citizens from a certain age can be elected for election, irrespective of their social
status and income.
Direct: A party or a candidate is elected directly

Free: The citizens can make their decision without any influence or pressure. You can also
choose not to go. There is no compulsory choice.
Equal: All voices have the same weight. So, no voice is rated higher than others.

Secret: The principle of secret choice confirms the previous principles. By voting in the
election booth a pressure on the electors can be prevented.

The five percent hurdle

More than 60 million electors vote every four years in the election to the German Bundestag, who
governs them in the next legislature period.
Not all parties who are on the ballot will be able to do so in the Bundestag. For this, a party needs at
least 5% of the two votes nationwide. If it gets less - and it is 4.9% - it goes empty. This rule is called
"lock clause" - better known as "five-percent-Hurde". The purpose of the "five-percent-Hurde" is to
prevent a strong fragmentation of Parliament.

The political parties in Germany

The parties have a strong position in Germany. This is the reason why the political system in
Germany is sometimes used as a "party-democracy".
An overview of the main parties of the Federal Republic of Germany

CDU = Christian Democratic Union of Germany

The CDU was founded in 1945 as a superconfessional successor party of civil and religious parties.
It is oriented both on the Christian social doctrine and on conservatism and covers a conservative
and liberal spectrum. Except in Bavaria, the CDU is represented in the entire federal territory.

CSU = Christian Social Union in Bavaria

The CSU has a more conservative orientation than the CDU, but operates only in Bavaria. Together
with the CDU in the German Bundestag, it forms a factional group, together they are called "the
Union" or "Unionsparteien".

SPD = Social Democratic Party of Germany

The SPD exists with predecessors since 1863 and is thus the oldest political party in Germany. After
the ban in the period of national socialism, it was re-established in 1945. It wants to be a people's
party, which is to be chosen for broad strata.

FDP = Free Democratic Party

The FDP was founded in 1948. The FDP is for more liberties and responsibility of the individual
and a stronger restraint of the state in economic and citizenship questions.

THE LEFT
The Left represents the politically left democratic spectrum in Germany.

THE GREEN
The Grunen emanated as a nationwide party in 1980. In 1983 they moved into the Bondstag for the
first time. In 1990, they joined forces with the East German grassroots and in 1993 with the
Bundestag. 90 to Bundnis 90 / The Grunen together. They are more likely to be represented in the
western federal states.