Legislation

Bicameral system: in addition to the Bundestag, the Bundesrat (consisting of delegates of the state governments to uphold the states’ interests) participates in legislation

State structure

Germany is a federation consisting of 16 federal states, each with its own constitution, parliament and government. The highest state authority is exercised by the federal government. Through the agency of the Bundesrat, the states are represented at the federal level and participate in federal legislation.

Suffrage

Universal, equal and secret suffrage as of 18 years of age (in the case of municipal elections in part as of 16), elections to the Bundestag are held every four years.

Federal President

Prof. Dr. Horst Köhler (CDU) since 2004

Federal Chancellor

Dr. Angela Merkel (CDU) since 2005

Party system

Multi-party system, parties have a special constitutional status, receive state financial support, can only be prohibited by the Federal Constitutional Court

Parties represented in the Bundestag

Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), German Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Christian Social Union (CSU), Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (The Greens), Free Democratic Party (FDP), Die Linke (The Left)

Legal system

Germany is a social constitutional state. It is based on the principle of a division of powers and the lawful administration. All organs of state are subject to the constitutional order. The Basic Law guarantees every individual citizen basic and human rights. The Federal Constitutional Court watches over adherence to the Basic Law. All the other organs of state are bound to uphold its rulings.

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