Politics of Germany

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The politics of Germany take place within the framework of a federal parliamentary republic, as established by the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal republic consisting of sixteen states (Länder). The political system is characterized by a division of powers between the executive, legislature, and judiciary.

Executive Branch

The President is the head of state and has a primarily ceremonial role. The Chancellor is the head of government and holds the executive power. The Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag and is responsible for forming the Federal Cabinet.

President

The President is elected by the Federal Convention for a five-year term and can be re-elected once. The current President is Frank-Walter Steinmeier.

Chancellor

The Chancellor is the most powerful figure in German politics, responsible for setting government policy and representing Germany internationally. The current Chancellor is Olaf Scholz.

Legislative Branch

The legislative power is vested in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.

Bundestag

The Bundestag is the lower house of the German parliament and is elected every four years by mixed-member proportional representation. It is responsible for passing federal laws, electing the Chancellor, and overseeing the government.

Bundesrat

The Bundesrat is the upper house and represents the sixteen states. Its members are appointed by the state governments. The Bundesrat's consent is required for certain types of legislation, particularly those affecting state interests.

Judiciary

The judiciary is independent of the executive and the legislature. The highest court is the Federal Constitutional Court, which has the power to review laws and acts of government for their constitutionality.

Political Parties

Germany has a multi-party system, with two major parties: the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). Other significant parties include the Greens, the Free Democratic Party (FDP), and The Left.

Related Pages

• Federal Republic of Germany
• Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany
• Bundestag
• Bundesrat of Germany
• President of Germany
• Chancellor of Germany
• Federal Constitutional Court
• Christian Democratic Union of Germany
• Social Democratic Party of Germany
• Alliance 90/The Greens
• Free Democratic Party (Germany)
• The Left (Germany)