Between 1945 and 1989, Germany consisted of two separate countries with two vastly different political systems: federal West Germany and Communist East Germany. Only since East and West united to form a single federal republic in 1990  has the country as a whole enjoyed a stable, democratic system that strives for the advancement of human rights, the protection of the environment, and the assurance of economic prosperity for all.

Organization

Germany’s constitution, the Basic Law, was first enacted on May 23, 1949. It defines the roles of the  two leaders of the Berlin-based Bundesregierung (federal government, www.bundesregierung.de)–the Bundeskanzler (federal chancellor) and the Bundespräsident (federal president).  It also establishes the rules of the two legislative bodies, the Bundestag (federal parliament) and the Bundesrat (federal council), and the Bundesverfassungsgericht (federal constitutional court, www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de). The Basic Law also lists the rights of each German citizen. The document’s cornerstone is human dignity: One of its most important declarations is that “human dignity shall be inviolable. To respect and protect it shall be the duty of all state authority.”

Bundeskanzler & Bundespräsident

Modeled after Great Britain’s prime minister, the Bundeskanzler is the executive leader of the federal government. In addition to assigning cabinet ministers who overlook the country’s many agencies, which include ministries responsible for Foreign Affairs, Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth, and Environment, Nature Conservation, and Nuclear Safety, the chancellor sets the country’s domestic and international agenda. Angela Merkel, who replaced Gerhard Schröder in 2006 to serve as the country’s first woman chancellor, has served two terms. The next election will take place in September or October of 2013.  The Bundespräsident, who serves a five-year term, is an official figurehead who works with the country’s foundations, hands out official prizes, and serves as a liaison between government bodies. Christian Wulff is the current president. While the Bundeskanzler works in the contemporary Bundeskanzleramt (Chancellor Building), the president works in the historic Schloss Belvedere (Belvedere Palace).

Bundestag & Bundesrat

The German government’s two legislative bodies, the Bundestag, which meets in the Reichstag, and the Bundesrat, which meets in an elegant Leipziger Strasse palace, are composed of elected officials. Not all representatives are directly elected by voters, however: Of the 598 representatives who make up the more powerful body, the Bundestag, only 299 officials are directly elected. The rest are named by their respective political parties, which include those groups that received at least five percent of the vote. The Bundestag elects the Bundeskanzler and helps the chosen chancellor to iron out policies and pass laws. If, at any time, the Bundestag no longer believes that the chancellor is a competent ruler, the body can call for a vote of confidence. Members of the Bundesrat represent each Land (federal state); depending on its population, each state gets between three and six representatives. The primary task of this body is to deliberate on and vote for new laws—especially those that impact state governments.

Bundesländer

Germany is divided into 16 Bundesländer (federal states), including three independent city-states: Baden-Württemberg, Bayern (Bavaria), Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse (Hessen), Niedersachsen (Lower Saxony), Mecklenburg Vorpommern (Mecklenburg–Lower Pomerania), Nordrhein-Westfalen (North Rhine–Westphalia), Rhineland Pfalz (Rhineland-Palatinate), Saarland, Sachsen-Anhalt (Saxony-Anhalt), Sachsen (Saxony), Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia. Like U.S. states, each Land has its own state capital, where the Ministerpräsident (state president) and state parliament work, and the power to set its own laws that govern education and schooling. In many cases, states act in their own interest when promoting trade and business abroad. For more information and links to each state’s website, visit the information-packed Das Deutschland Portal (Germany Portal, http://www.deutschland.de/)

Political Parties

The dozens of political parties that take part in Germany’s political system represent diverse—and sometimes offbeat—interests: the Deutsche Familienpartei (Family Party of Germany), Mensch Umwelt Tierschutz (Humanity, Environment and Animal Protection), and the Partei für Soziale Gleichheit (Social Equality Party) are among the many parties that champion special interests. Only six parties, however, dominate the country’s vibrant political scene: the center-right Christlich Demokratische Union (CDU, Christian Democratic Union) and its partner party, the Christlich Soziale Union (CSU, Christian Social Union); the center-left Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (SPD, Social Democratic Party), the liberal economic Freie Demokratische Partei (FDP, Free Democratic Party), the environmentally minded Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (Alliance 90/The Greens), and the leftist Die Linke (The Left). It is very rare for one party to dominate the government; rather, power-sharing alliances and coalitions between or among parties share leadership. For example, all parties involved in the coalition get a share of federal cabinet posts. Currently, the CDU/CSU and FDP have a ruling agreement. In most cases, parties with extreme views, such as the far right Nationaldemokratische Partei Deutschlands (NPD, National Democratic Party of Germany) and the far left Marxistisch-Leninistische Partei Deutschlands (Marx and Lenin Party, MLPD) play only a marginal role in the national government.