States of Germany - Politics

Politics

Germany
This article is part of the series:
Politics and government of
Germany
Constitution
  • Constitution
  • Human rights
Executive
  • President
    • Joachim Gauck
  • Chancellor
    • Angela Merkel
  • Cabinet
Legislature
  • Federal Convention
    (Bundesversammlung)
  • Federal Council
    (Bundesrat)
  • Federal Diet
    (Bundestag)
  • Joint Committee
    (Gemeinsamer Ausschuss)
Judiciary
  • Judiciary
  • Federal courts
    • Constitutional Court
    • Administrative Court
    • Court of Justice
    • Finance Court
    • Labor Court
    • Social court
Divisions
  • States (Länder)
  • Administrative regions
    (Regierungsbezirke)
  • Districts (Kreise)
  • Collective municipalities
  • Municipalities (Gemeinden)
Elections
  • Elections
  • Political parties
Foreign policy
  • Foreign relations
  • European Union politics
  • Other countries
  • Atlas

Politics portal

Germany is a federal, parliamentary, representative democratic republic. The German political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1949 constitutional document known as the Grundgesetz (Basic Law). By calling the document Grundgesetz, rather than Verfassung (constitution), the authors expressed the intention that it would be replaced by a proper constitution once Germany was reunited as one state.

Amendments to the Grundgesetz generally require a two-thirds majority of both chambers of the parliament; the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the federal structure, and the rule of law are valid in perpetuity. Despite the original intention, the Grundgesetz remained in effect after the German reunification in 1990, with only minor amendments.

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Famous quotes containing the word politics:

    “Politics is not an end, but a means. It is not a product, but a process. It is the art of government. Like other values it has its counterfeits. So much emphasis has been placed upon the false that the significance of the true has been obscured and politics has come to convey the meaning of crafty and cunning selfishness, instead of candid and sincere service.”
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