View source for Politics of Germany

{{Short description|Political system of Germany}}
{{Infobox political system
| name                    = Political System of the Federal Republic of Germany
| native_name             = {{smaller|{{native name|de|Politisches System der Bundesrepublik Deutschland}}}}
| image                   = Coat of arms of Germany.svg
| image_size              = 130
| caption                 = [[Coat of arms of Germany]]
| government              = [[Federalism|Federal]] [[Democracy|democratic]] [[Parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[republic]]
| constitution            = [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law for Germany]] 
| formation               = 
| dissolution             = 
| website                 =  
| legislature             = [[Bundestag]] and [[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] 
| legislature_type        = Bicameral
| legislature_place       = [[Reichstag building]] 
| legislature_speaker     = [[Julia Klöckner]]
| legislature_speaker_title = [[President of the Bundestag]]
| title_hos               = [[President of Germany|Federal President]] 
| current_hos             = [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]]
| appointer_hos           = [[Federal Convention (Germany)|Bundesversammlung]]
| title_hog               = [[Chancellor of Germany|Federal Chancellor]] 
| current_hog             = [[Friedrich Merz]]
| appointer_hog           = President
| cabinet                 = [[Cabinet of Germany]] 
| current_cabinet         = [[Merz cabinet]]
| cabinet_leader          = [[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]]
| cabinet_deputyleader    = [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Vice Chancellor]]
| cabinet_appointer       = President
| cabinet_hq              = [[Federal Chancellery (Berlin)|Chancellery]] 
| cabinet_ministries      = 15
| judiciary               = [[Judiciary of Germany]] 
| law                     = [[Law of Germany]]
| court                   = [[Federal Constitutional Court]]
| chief_judge             = [[Stephan Harbarth]]
| court_seat              = Seat of the Court, [[Karlsruhe]]
}}
{{Use dmy dates|date=May 2014}}
{{Politics of Germany}}

[[Germany]] is a [[democracy|democratic]] and [[federation|federal]] [[parliamentary system|parliamentary]] [[republic]], where federal [[legislative power]] is vested in the {{lang|de|[[Bundestag (Germany)|Bundestag]]}} (the parliament of Germany) and the {{lang|de|[[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]]}} (the representative body of the {{lang|de|[[States of Germany|Länder]]}}, Germany's regional states).

The  [[Federalism in Germany|federal system]] has, since 1949, been dominated by the [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU) and the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD). The [[judiciary of Germany]] is independent of the [[executive (government)|executive]] and the [[legislature]], while it is common for leading members of the executive to be members of the legislature as well. The political system is laid out in the 1949 constitution, the {{lang|de|[[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Grundgesetz]]}} (Basic Law), which remained in effect with minor amendments after [[German reunification]] in 1990.

The constitution emphasizes the protection of [[individual liberty]] in an extensive catalogue of [[Human rights in Germany|human]] and [[civil rights]] and divides powers both between the federal and state levels and between the legislative, executive and judicial branches.

West Germany was a founding member of the [[European Communities|European Community]] in 1958, which became the [[European Union|EU]] in 1993. Germany is part of the [[Schengen Area]], and has been a member of the [[eurozone]] since 1999. It is a member of the [[United Nations]], [[NATO]], the [[G7]], the [[G-20 major economies|G20]] and the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]].

{{Democracy Index rating|Germany|full democracy|2022}} According to the [[V-Dem Democracy indices]], in 2023 Germany was the 15th most electoral democratic country in the world.<ref name="vdem_dataset">{{cite web |last=V-Dem Institute |date=2023 |title=The V-Dem Dataset |url=https://www.v-dem.net/data/the-v-dem-dataset/ |access-date=14 October 2023}}</ref>

==History==
===Before 1945===
{{Expand section|date=November 2025}}

===Before 1998===
Beginning with the election of [[Konrad Adenauer]] in 1949, the [[West Germany|Federal Republic of Germany]] had [[CDU/CSU|Christian Democratic]] chancellors for 20 years until a [[German governing coalition|coalition]] between the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrats]] and the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Liberals]] took over. From 1982, Christian Democratic leader [[Helmut Kohl]] was chancellor in a coalition with the Liberals for 16 years. In this period fell the reunification of Germany, in 1990: the [[German Democratic Republic]] joined the Federal Republic. In the former GDR's territory, five ''Länder'' (states) were established or reestablished. The two parts of Berlin united as one "Land" (state).

The political system of the Federal Republic remained more or less unchanged. Specific provisions for the former GDR territory were enabled via the ''unification treaty'' between the Federal Republic and the GDR prior to the [[German Unity Day|unification day]] of 3 October 1990. However, Germany saw in the following two distinct party systems: the Green party and the Liberals remained mostly West German parties, while in the East the former socialist state party, now called The Left Party, flourished along with the Christian Democrats and Social Democrats.

===1998–2005===
{{Main|1998 German federal election|2002 German federal election}}
[[File:Schroeder2002.jpg|thumb|[[Gerhard Schröder]] in the 2002 elections]]
[[File:Joschka Fischer 2005.jpg|thumb|[[Joschka Fischer]] in the 2005 elections]]

After 16 years of the Christian–Liberal coalition, led by [[Helmut Kohl]], the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]] (SPD) together with the Greens won the Bundestag elections of 1998. SPD vice chairman [[Gerhard Schröder]] positioned himself as a centrist candidate, in contradiction to the leftist SPD chairman [[Oskar Lafontaine]]. The Kohl government was hurt at the polls by slower economic growth in the East in the previous two years, and constantly high unemployment. The final margin of victory was sufficiently high to permit a "red-green" coalition of the SPD with [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] ({{lang|de|Bündnis '90/Die Grünen}}), bringing the Greens into a national government for the first time.

Initial problems of the new government, marked by policy disputes between the moderate and traditional left wings of the SPD, resulted in some voter disaffection. Lafontaine left the government (and later his party) in early 1999. The CDU won in some important state elections but was hit in 2000 by a party donation scandal from the Kohl years. As a result of this [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]] (CDU) crisis, [[Angela Merkel]] became chair.

The [[2002 German federal election|next election for the {{lang|de|Bundestag|nocat=y}}]] was on 22 September 2002. Gerhard Schröder led the coalition of SPD and Greens to an eleven-seat victory over the Christian Democrat challengers headed by [[Edmund Stoiber]] (CSU). Three factors are generally cited that enabled Schröder to win the elections despite poor approval ratings a few months before and a weaker economy: good handling of the [[2002 European floods|100-year flood]], firm opposition to the US [[2003 invasion of Iraq]], and Stoiber's unpopularity in the east, which cost the CDU crucial seats there.

In its second term, the red–green coalition lost several very important state elections, for example in [[Lower Saxony]] where Schröder was the prime minister from 1990 to 1998. On 20 April 2003, chancellor Schröder announced massive labor market reforms, called [[Agenda 2010]], that cut unemployment benefits. Although these reforms sparked massive protests, they are now credited with being in part responsible for the relatively strong economic performance of Germany during the [[European debt crisis|euro-crisis]] and the decrease in unemployment in Germany in the years 2006–2007.<ref>{{citation|url=http://www.bpb.de/nachschlagen/zahlen-und-fakten/soziale-situation-in-deutschland/61718/arbeitslose-und-arbeitslosenquote|title=Arbeitslose und Arbeitslosenquote|date=28 March 2024 }}</ref>

===2005–2009===
{{Main|2005 German federal election}}
[[File:Angela Merkel (2008).jpg|thumb|Former chancellor: [[Angela Merkel]] of the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democrats]]]]

On 22 May 2005 the SPD received a devastating defeat in its former heartland, [[North Rhine-Westphalia]]. Half an hour after the election results, the SPD chairman [[Franz Müntefering]] announced that the chancellor would clear the way for new federal elections.

This took the republic by surprise, especially because the SPD was below 20% in polls at the time. The CDU quickly announced [[Angela Merkel]] as Christian Democrat candidate for chancellor, aspiring to be the first female chancellor in German history.

New for the 2005 election was the alliance between the newly formed [[Electoral Alternative for Labor and Social Justice]] (WASG) and the PDS, planning to fuse into a common party (see [[The Left (Germany)|Left Party.PDS]]). With the former SPD chairman, Oskar Lafontaine for the WASG and [[Gregor Gysi]] for the PDS as prominent figures, this alliance soon found interest in the media and in the population. Polls in July saw them as high as 12%.

Whereas in May and June 2005 victory of the Christian Democrats seemed highly likely, with some polls giving them an absolute majority, this picture changed shortly before the election on 18 September 2005.
[[File:Sánchez se reunió con el nuevo canciller alemán Olaf Scholz en La Moncloa 20220117 (8) (cropped).jpg|thumb|[[Olaf Scholz]], chancellor from 2021 to 2025]]
[[File:Frank-Walter Steinmeier - 2018.jpg|thumb|[[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] was the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|Social Democrat]] candidate for chancellor in 2009 and president of Germany since 2017.]]

The election results of 18 September were surprising because they differed widely from the polls of the previous weeks. The Christian Democrats even lost votes compared to 2002, narrowly reaching the first place with only 35.2%, and failed to get a majority for a "black–yellow" government of [[CDU/CSU]] and liberal FDP. But the red–green coalition also failed to get a majority, with the SPD losing votes, but polling 34.2% and the greens staying at 8.1%. [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] reached 8.7% and entered the ''[[Bundestag]]'', whereas the far-right [[National Democratic Party of Germany|NPD]] only got 1.6%.<ref>[http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_05/ergebnisse/bundesergebnisse/b_tabelle_99.html Official election results] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20090423055851/http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/de/bundestagswahlen/BTW_BUND_05/ergebnisse/bundesergebnisse/b_tabelle_99.html |date=23 April 2009 }}</ref>

The most likely outcome of coalition talks was a so-called grand coalition between the Christian Democrats (CDU/CSU) and the Social Democrats (SPD). Three party coalitions and coalitions involving The Left had been ruled out by all interested parties (including The Left itself). On 22 November 2005, Angela Merkel was sworn in by President [[Horst Köhler]] for the office of Bundeskanzlerin.

The existence of the grand coalition on federal level helped smaller parties' electoral prospects in state elections. Since in 2008, the CSU lost its absolute majority in Bavaria and formed a coalition with the FDP, the grand coalition had no majority in the ''Bundesrat'' and depended on FDP votes on important issues. In November 2008, the SPD re-elected its already retired chair [[Franz Müntefering]] and made [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] its leading candidate for the federal election in September 2009.

As a result of [[2009 German federal election|that federal election]], the grand coalition brought losses for both parties and came to an end. The SPD suffered the heaviest losses in its history and was unable to form a coalition government. The CDU/CSU had only little losses but also reached a new historic low with its worst result since 1949. The three smaller parties thus had more seats in the German ''Bundestag'' than ever before, with the liberal party FDP winning 14.6% of votes.

=== 2009–2013 ===
{{Main|2009 German federal election}}
[[File:Sigmar Gabriel-2009 ArM.jpg|thumb|[[Sigmar Gabriel]]: [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] chairman from 2009 to 2017, 2013–2017 [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|Deputy to the Chancellor]]]]

The CDU/CSU and FDP together held 332 seats (of 622 total seats) and had been in coalition since 27 October 2009. Angela Merkel was re-elected as chancellor, and [[Guido Westerwelle]] served as the [[Foreign Office (Germany)|foreign minister]] and vice chancellor of Germany. After being elected into the federal government, the FDP suffered heavy losses in the following state elections. The FDP had promised to lower taxes in the electoral campaign, but after being part of the coalition they had to concede that this was not possible due to the [[Great Recession|economic crisis]] of 2008. Because of the losses, Guido Westerwelle had to resign as chair of the FDP in favor of [[Philipp Rösler]], [[Federal Ministry of Health (Germany)|federal minister of health]], who was consequently appointed as [[Vice Chancellor of Germany|vice chancellor]]. Shortly after, Philipp Rösler changed office and became [[Federal Ministry of Economics and Technology (Germany)|federal minister of economics and technology]].

After their electoral fall, the Social Democrats were led by [[Sigmar Gabriel]], a former federal minister and prime minister of Lower Saxony, and by [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] as the head of the parliamentary group. He resigned on 16 January 2017 and proposed his longtime friend and president of [[European Parliament]] [[Martin Schulz]] as his successor and chancellor candidate.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.wsws.org/en/articles/2017/01/26/germ-j26.html |title=Sigmar Gabriel resigns as Social Democratic Party leader and chancellor candidate - World Socialist Web Site |date=26 January 2017 |publisher=Wsws.org |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>
Germany has seen increased political activity by citizens outside the established political parties with respect to local and [[environmental activism|environmental]] issues such as the location of [[Stuttgart 21]], a railway hub, and construction of [[Berlin Brandenburg Airport]].<ref>{{cite news|last=Dempsey|first=Judy|title=German Politics Faces Grass-Roots Threat|url=https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/europe/02germany.html |archive-url=https://ghostarchive.org/archive/20220102/https://www.nytimes.com/2011/05/02/world/europe/02germany.html |archive-date=2022-01-02 |url-access=limited |url-status=live|access-date=16 May 2011|newspaper=The New York Times|date=1 May 2011}}{{cbignore}}</ref>

=== 2013–2017 ===
{{main article|2013 German federal election}}

The 18th federal elections in Germany resulted in the re-election of [[Angela Merkel]] and her Christian democratic parliamentary group of the parties [[Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]] and CSU, receiving 41.5% of all votes. Following Merkel's first two historically low results, her third campaign marked the CDU/CSU's best result since 1994 and only for the second time in German history the possibility of gaining an absolute majority. Their former coalition partner, the FDP, narrowly failed to reach the 5% threshold and did not gain seats in the [[Bundestag]].<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.thetimes.com/travel/destinations/europe-travel/germanys-left-turn-fm00xmlrv2z |title=Germany's Left Turn |newspaper=[[The Times]] |date=2013-10-22 |access-date=2019-02-05}}</ref>

Not having reached an absolute majority, the CDU/CSU formed a [[Grand coalition (Germany)|grand coalition]] with the social-democratic [[SPD]] after the longest coalition talks in history, making the head of the party [[Sigmar Gabriel]] [[Vice-Chancellor of Germany|vice-chancellor]] and federal [[Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Energy|minister for economic affairs and energy]]. Together they held 504 of a total 631 seats (CDU/CSU 311 and SPD 193). The only two opposition parties were The Left (64 seats) and Alliance '90/The Greens (63 seats), which was acknowledged as creating a critical situation in which the opposition parties did not even have enough seats to use the special controlling powers of the opposition.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/plenum/sitzverteilung18.html |title=Deutscher Bundestag: Sitzverteilung des 18. Deutschen Bundestages |access-date=2014-01-30 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20140121013840/http://www.bundestag.de/bundestag/plenum/sitzverteilung18.html |archive-date=21 January 2014 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

=== 2017–2021 ===
{{main article|2017 German federal election}}

The 19th federal elections in Germany took place on 24 September 2017. The two big parties, the conservative parliamentary group [[CDU/CSU]] and the social democrat [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]] were in a similar situation as in 2009, after the last grand coalition had ended, and both had suffered severe losses; reaching their second worst and worst result respectively in 2017.<ref>{{cite news |title=German election: Merkel wins fourth term, AfD nationalists rise |url=https://www.bbc.com/news/world-europe-41376577 |work=BBC News |date=25 September 2017}}</ref>

Many votes in the 2017 elections went to smaller parties, leading the right-wing populist party [[Alternative for Germany|AfD]] (Alternative for Germany) into the [[Bundestag]] which marked a big shift in German politics since it was the first far-right party to win seats in parliament since the 1950s.

With Merkel's candidacy for a fourth term, the CDU/CSU only reached 33.0% of the votes, but won the highest number of seats, leaving no realistic coalition option without the CDU/CSU. As all parties in the Bundestag strictly ruled out a coalition with the AfD, the only options for a majority coalition were a so-called "Jamaican" coalition (CDU/CSU, [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]], [[Alliance 90/The Greens|Greens]]; named after the party colors resembling those of the Jamaican flag) and a grand coalition with the SPD, which was at first opposed by the Social Democrats and their leader [[Martin Schulz]].<ref>{{cite news |title=SPD's Martin Schulz under pressure to reconsider grand coalition with Angela Merkel |url=https://www.politico.eu/article/spd-martin-schulz-under-pressure-to-reconsider-grand-coalition-with-angela-merkel/ |work=POLITICO |date=22 November 2017}}</ref>

Coalition talks between the three parties of the "Jamaican" coalition were held but the final proposal was rejected by the liberals of the FDP, leaving the government in limbo.<ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/business/live/2017/nov/20/markets-rattled-euro-dax-bunds-german-coalition-talks-collapse-business-live|title=Markets rattled as German coalition talks collapse – business live|last=Wearden|first=Graeme|date=2017-11-20|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-11-20}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/live/2017/sep/24/german-elections-2017-angela-merkel-cdu-spd-afd-live-updates|title=German elections 2017: Angela Merkel wins fourth term but AfD makes gains – as it happened|last=Henley|first=Jon|date=2017-09-24|work=The Guardian|access-date=2017-09-25}}</ref> Following the unprecedented situation, for the first time in German history different minority coalitions or even direct snap coalitions were also heavily discussed. At this point, [[President of Germany|Federal President]] [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier|Steinmeier]] invited leaders of all parties for talks about a government, being the first president in the history of the Federal Republic to do so.

Official coalition talks between CDU/CSU and SPD started in January 2018 and led to a renewal of the grand coalition on 12 March 2018 as well as the subsequent re-election of Angela Merkel as chancellor.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://www.zeit.de/politik/deutschland/2018-03/grosse-koalition-union-und-spd-unterschreiben-koalitionsvertrag|title=Union und SPD unterschreiben Koalitionsvertrag|date=12 March 2018|newspaper=Die Zeit|access-date=16 April 2018}}</ref>

=== 2021–2025<!--update "current"--> ===
{{main article|2021 German federal election}}{{See also|2025 German federal election}}
Scheduled elections for the new Bundestag were held on [[2021 German federal election|26 September 2021]] during the [[COVID-19 pandemic]]. Angela Merkel did not stand for a fifth term but handed her post over after the second longest term for a chancellor in German history. [[Olaf Scholz]] was sworn in as the new chancellor on 8 December 2021. His Social Democrats had won the plurality of votes and formed a liberal-left coalition government with The Greens and the FDP.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2021-12-08|title=Olaf Scholz elected to succeed Angela Merkel as German chancellor|url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2021/dec/08/olaf-scholz-elected-succeed-angela-merkel-german-chancellor|access-date=2022-01-11|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref>

For the first time since 1949 the [[South Schleswig Voters' Association]] was able to gain a seat in the Bundestag. As a party which represents Frisian and Danish minorities in Germany it is not bound by the 5% threshold.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2023-09-28 |title=Erst angefeindet, jetzt im Bundestag: 75 Jahre SSW im Landtag|url=https://www.ndr.de/nachrichten/schleswig-holstein/Erst-angefeindet-jetzt-im-Bundestag-75-Jahre-SSW-im-Landtag,sswschleswigholstein100.html|access-date=2024-10-07|website=NDR.de|language=de}}</ref>
The Left party missed that threshold as well and was only able to enter the Bundestag by winning three direct mandates. This was only the fourth time in history that this clause on the minimum number of constituency seats required for party representation in Parliament was applied.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-10-07 |title=Clause on the minimum number of constituency seats required for party representation in Parliament|url=https://bundeswahlleiterin.de/en/service/glossar/g/grundmandatsklausel.html|access-date=2024-10-07|website=Bundeswahlleiterin.de|language=en}}</ref>

In February 2022, [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] was elected for a second five-year term as Germany's president. Although a largely ceremonial post, he has been seen as a symbol of consensus and continuity.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2022-02-13|title=Steinmeier reelected as German president |url=https://www.dw.com/en/frank-walter-steinmeier-elected-to-second-term-as-german-president/a-60760871|access-date=2024-11-10 |website=Deutsche Welle|language=en}}</ref>

In a highly publicized break with her former party, The Left, [[Sahra Wagenknecht]] formed her own left-wing but culturally and socially conservative populist party, the [[Sahra Wagenknecht Alliance]] in 2024. Along with 9 other former members of The Left who held on to their seats in the Bundestag after leaving the party, they now hold 1.36% of mandates and cost The Left party its status as a parliamentary group.<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-06-10 |title=Germany's new populists BSW challenge the far-right AfD|url=https://www.dw.com/en/eu-elections-2024-bsw-wagenknecht-results/a-66470345|access-date=2024-10-07|website=Deutsche Welle|language=en}}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-10-07 |title=Sitzverteilung des 20. Deutschen Bundestages|url=https://www.bundestag.de/parlament/plenum/sitzverteilung_20wp|access-date=2024-10-07|website=Bundestag.de|language=de}}</ref>

On 6 November 2024, chancellor Olaf Scholz dismissed Christian Lindner from his post as finance minister, starting the [[2024 German government crisis]].<ref>{{Cite web|date=2024-11-08 |title=Fiscal policy was a squabble too far for German coalition’s odd throuple |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2024/nov/08/|access-date=2024-11-10|website=the Guardian|language=en}}</ref> After the FDP left the coalition, Scholz announced a [[2024 German government crisis#Vote of confidence|vote of confidence]] which he lost.<ref>{{Cite web |title=German election: Scholz loses confidence vote – DW – 12/17/2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/german-election-scholz-loses-confidence-vote/live-71063891 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref> President Steinmeier would dissolve the Bundestag on 27 December 2024, paving the way for [[2025 German federal election|new federal elections]] in Germany.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Steinmeier löst Bundestag auf: Weg frei für Neuwahlen – DW – 27.12.2024 |url=https://www.dw.com/de/steinmeier-aufloesung-bundestag-neuwahlen-wegen-koalitions-krise-in-deutschland/a-70453303 |access-date=2025-02-04 |website=dw.com |language=de}}</ref>

Elections for the 21st German Bundestag were held on February 23rd 2025. The CDU/CSU came first with 28.6% of the vote with the SPD suffering their worst result in German history with 16.4% of the vote, hence losing the chancellorship.<ref>https://www.bundeswahlleiterin.de/en/index.html</ref> Following the elections CDU/CSU and SPD formed a coalition and the Bundestag elected [[Friedrich Merz]] as chancellor on May 6th 2025.<ref>https://www.bbc.com/news/articles/cvgp22zlrgko</ref>

==Constitution==
{{Main|Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany}}
[[File:Bundestag_elected_members,_2005.svg|thumb|Seats in the Bundestag after the 2005 elections: {{legend|#8C3473|[[:en:The Left (Germany)|The Left]]: 54 seats}} {{legend|#EB001F|[[:en:Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]: 222 seats}} {{legend|#58AB27|[[:en:Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]]: 51 seats}} {{legend|#FFED00|[[:en:Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]: 61 seats}} {{legend|#000000|[[:en:Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]: 180 seats}} {{legend|#0188CA|[[:en:Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]: 46 seats}}]]
[[File:2009_German_federal_election_-_composition_chart.svg|thumb|Seats in the Bundestag after the 2009 elections: {{legend|#BE3075|[[:en:The Left (Germany)|The Left]]: 76 seats}} {{legend|#EB001F|[[:en:Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]: 146 seats}} {{legend|#64A12D|[[:en:Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]]: 68 seats}} {{legend|#FFED00|[[:en:Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]: 93 seats}} {{legend|#000000|[[:en:Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]: 194 seats}} {{legend|#008AC5|[[:en:Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]: 45 seats}}]]
[[File:Deutschland_Bundestag_2013.svg|thumb|
Seats in the Bundestag after the 2013 elections:{{legend|#bf2c76|[[:en:The Left (Germany)|The Left]]: 64 seats}} {{legend|#ec0019|[[:en:Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]: 193 seats}} {{legend|#64a329|[[:en:Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]]: 63 seats}} {{legend|#000000|[[:en:Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]: 255 seats}}{{legend|#0078b4|[[:en:Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]: 56 seats}}]]
[[File:Bundestag_2017.svg|thumb|
Seats in the Bundestag after the 2017 elections:{{legend|#BE3075|[[:en:The Left (Germany)|The Left]]: 69 seats}} {{legend|#EB001F|[[:en:Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]]: 153 seats}} {{legend|#64A12D|[[:en:Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]]: 67 seats}} {{legend|#FFED00|[[:en:Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]]: 80 seats}} {{legend|#000000|[[:en:Christian Democratic Union of Germany|CDU]]: 200 seats}} {{legend|#0077B3|[[:en:Christian Social Union in Bavaria|CSU]]: 46 seats}} {{legend|#00ADEF|[[:en:Alternative for Germany|AfD]]: 94 seats}}]]

The "Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany" (Grundgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland) is the Constitution of Germany.<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/rechtsgrundlagen/grundgesetz/index.html |title=Deutscher Bundestag - Grundgesetz |language=de |publisher=Bundestag.de |date=2017-09-25 |access-date=2019-02-05 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20101205113643/http://www.bundestag.de/dokumente/rechtsgrundlagen/grundgesetz/index.html |archive-date=5 December 2010 |url-status=dead }}</ref> It was formally approved on 8 May 1949, and, with the signature of the [[Allies of World War II]] on 12 May, came into effect on 23 May, as the constitution of those states of [[West Germany]] that were initially included within the Federal Republic. The 1949 Basic Law is a response to the perceived flaws of the 1919 [[Weimar Constitution]], which failed to prevent the rise of the Nazi party in 1933. Since 1990, in the course of the reunification process after the fall of the Berlin Wall, the Basic Law also applies to the eastern states of the former [[East Germany|German Democratic Republic]].

[[File:PoliticalSystemGermany.png|center|thumb|550px|{{center|The political system of Germany}}]]

==Executive==
{{Main|Federal level (Germany)}}

===Head of state===
{{Main|President of Germany}}
[[File:Berlin - panoramio (165).jpg|thumb|[[Bellevue Palace (Germany)|Bellevue Palace]]]]

The German head of state is the federal president. As in Germany's [[parliamentary system]] of government, the [[Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)|federal chancellor]] runs the government and day-to-day politics, while the role of the federal president is mostly ceremonial. The federal president, by their actions and public appearances, represents the state itself, its existence, its legitimacy, and unity. Their office involves an integrative role.<ref>Website of the Federal President of Germany [http://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Role-and-Functions/ConstitutionalBasis/ConstitutionalBasis-node.html;jsessionid=199EA05B058DB4F409D855E3A833D30C.2_cid379] Retrieved 13 April 2014</ref> Nearly all actions of the federal president become valid only after a [[countersignature]] of a government member of Germany.

The president is not obliged by Constitution to refrain from political views. The president is expected to give direction to general political and societal debates, but not in a way that is linked to party politics. Most German presidents were active politicians and party members prior to the office, which means that they have to change their political style when becoming president. The function comprises the official residence of [[Bellevue Palace (Germany)|Bellevue Palace]].

Under Article 59 (1) of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]], the federal president represents the Federal Republic of Germany in matters of international law, concludes treaties with foreign states on its behalf and accredits diplomats.<ref>Website of the Federal President of Germany [http://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Role-and-Functions/RoleInTheInternationalArena/roleintheinternationalarena-node.html] Retrieved 28 April 2014.</ref>

All federal laws must be signed by the president before they can come into effect. The president does not have formal a veto, but the conditions for refusing to sign a law on the basis of unconstitutionality are the subject of debate.<ref>{{Cite book|title= Grundrechtsbindung des Gesetzgebers: eine rechtsvergleichende Studie zu Deutschland, Frankreich und den USA|language=de|pages=123ff|first= Friederike Valerie|last= Lange|date=2010|isbn= 978-316-150420-4|publisher= Mohr Siebeck}}</ref> The office is currently held by [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] (since 2017). <!--update "current"-->

The federal president does have a role in the political system, especially at the establishment of a new government and the dissolution of the Bundestag (parliament). This role is usually nominal but can become significant in case of political instability. Additionally, a federal president together with the [[German Bundesrat|Federal Council]] can support the government in a "legislatory emergency state" to enable laws against the will of the Bundestag (Article 81 of the Basic Law). However, so far the federal president has never had to use these "[[reserve power]]s".

===Head of government===
{{Main|Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)}}
[[File:150515 Bundeskanzleramt (Berlin) Ostseite.jpg|thumb|[[German Chancellery]]]]

The ''[[Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)|Bundeskanzler]]'' (federal chancellor) heads the ''[[Cabinet of Germany|Bundesregierung]]'' (federal government) and thus the [[executive branch]] of the federal government. They are elected by and responsible to the ''[[Bundestag]]'', Germany's parliament. The other members of the government are the federal ministers; they are chosen by the Chancellor. Germany, like the United Kingdom, can thus be classified as a [[parliamentary system]]. The office is currently held by [[Friedrich Merz]] (since 2025). <!--update "current"-->

The Chancellor cannot be removed from office during a four-year term unless the ''Bundestag'' has agreed on a successor. This [[constructive vote of no confidence]] is intended to avoid a similar situation to that of the [[Weimar Republic]] in which the executive did not have enough support in the legislature to govern effectively, but the legislature was too divided to name a successor. The current system also prevents the Chancellor from calling a [[snap election]].

Except in the periods 1969–1972 and 1976–1982, when the Social Democratic party of Chancellors [[Willy Brandt|Brandt]] and [[Helmut Schmidt|Schmidt]] came in second in the elections, the chancellor has always been the candidate of the largest party, usually supported by a coalition of two parties with a majority in the parliament. The chancellor appoints one of the federal ministers as their deputy,<ref>Article 69 of the Basic Law</ref> who has the unofficial title [[Vice Chancellor of Germany|Vice Chancellor]] ({{langx|de|Vizekanzler}}). The office is currently held by [[Lars Klingbeil]] (since 2025). <!--update "current"-->

===Cabinet===
{{main|Cabinet of Germany}}

The German Cabinet ({{lang|de|Bundeskabinett}} or {{lang|de|Bundesregierung}}) is the chief [[executive branch|executive]] body of the Federal Republic of Germany. It consists of the [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic)|chancellor]] and the [[cabinet minister]]s. The fundamentals of the cabinet's organization are set down in articles 62–69 of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]].

===Agencies===
{{main|Federal agency (Germany)}}

{{Location  map+|Germany|width=350|float=right|caption=Agencies with head offices outside of Berlin and Bonn (Hover mouse over pog to popup clickable link.) |places=
{{location map~|Germany|lat=52.31433999999999|long=10.552990000000023|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation|BFU]]/[[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt|LBA]]</small>}}
{{location map~|Germany|lat=53.54665|long=9.967419999999947|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|BSH Hamburg]]/[[Federal Bureau for Maritime Casualty Investigation|BSU]]</small>}}
{{location map~|Germany|link=Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|lat=54.0971199|long=12.106117199999971|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|BSH Rostock]]</small>}}
{{location map~|Germany|link=Federal Intelligence Service (Germany)|lat=48.063377|long=11.529475899999966|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[Federal Intelligence Service (Germany)|BND]] (former)</small>}}
}}

Agencies of the German government include:
*[[Federal Intelligence Service (Germany)|Federal Intelligence Service]] ({{lang|de|Bundesnachrichtendienst}})
*[[German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation|Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation]] ({{lang|de|Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung}})
*[[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt|Federal Aviation Office]] ({{lang|de|Luftfahrt-Bundesamt}})
*[[Federal Bureau for Maritime Casualty Investigation]] ({{lang|de|Bundesstelle für Seeunfalluntersuchung}})
*[[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency]] ({{lang|de|Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie}})
*[[Eisenbahn-Unfalluntersuchungsstelle des Bundes|Federal Railway Accident Investigation Board]] ({{lang|de|Eisenbahn-Unfalluntersuchungsstelle des Bundes}})
*[[Federal Railway Authority]] ({{lang|de|Eisenbahn-Bundesamt}})

==Legislature==
{{main|Bundestag|German Bundesrat}}

Federal legislative power is divided between the ''Bundestag'' and the ''Bundesrat''. The ''Bundestag'' is directly elected by the German people, while the ''Bundesrat'' represents the governments of the regional states (''Länder''). The federal legislature has powers of [[exclusive jurisdiction]] and [[concurrent jurisdiction]] with the states in areas specified in the constitution.

The ''Bundestag'' is more powerful than the ''Bundesrat'' and only needs the latter's consent for proposed legislation related to revenue shared by the federal and state governments, and the imposition of responsibilities on the states. In practice, however, the agreement of the ''Bundesrat'' in the legislative process is often required, since federal legislation frequently has to be executed by state or local agencies. In the event of disagreement between the ''Bundestag'' and the ''Bundesrat'', either side can appeal to the {{ill|Vermittlungsausschuss|de}} (Mediation Committee), a [[Committee#Conference_committee|conference committee]]-like body of 16 ''Bundesrat'' and 16 ''Bundestag'' members, to find a compromise.<ref>{{cite web |url=https://www.bundesrat.de/EN/national-en/va-en/va-en-node.html;jsessionid=697D10EE2EBED2D0DE69336AC9863673.1_cid339#doc5158928bodyText1 |title=Mediation Committee |website=bundesrat.de |publisher=[[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]] |language=en |access-date=August 2, 2021}}</ref>

===Bundestag===
{{Main|List of Bundestag constituencies}}
[[File:Berlin reichstag west panorama 2.jpg|thumb|[[Reichstag building]]]]

The ''Bundestag'' (Federal Diet) is elected for a four-year term and consists of 598 or more members elected by a means of [[mixed-member proportional representation]], which Germans call "personalised proportional representation". 299 members represent single-seat [[constituency|constituencies]] and are elected by a [[first-past-the-post electoral system]] ([[Direktmandat]]), where others ([[Listenkandidat]]) are elected from a [[State list (Germany)|state list]]. 

A party must receive either 5% of the national vote or three direct constituencies to be eligible for non-constituency seats in the ''Bundestag''. This rule, often called the "five-percent hurdle", was incorporated into Germany's election law to prevent political fragmentation and minority parties from becoming disproportionately influential. Parties representing ethnic minorities are exempt from this threshold.  

Parties that obtain fewer constituency seats than their national share of the vote are allotted seats from [[State list (Germany)|state party lists]] to make up the difference. In contrast, parties that obtain more constituency seats than their national share of the vote are allowed to keep these so-called [[overhang seat]]s. In federal elections since 2013, other parties obtain extra seats ("balance seats") that offset advantages from their rivals' overhang seats. The current ''Bundestag'' is the largest in German history with 736 members.

A 2023 reform of German election law limits the size of the ''Bundestag'' to 630 members for upcoming federal elections. Unless exempt from the hurdle, parties that do not make the 5% threshold will no longer be granted representation in parliament even if their candidates win three constituencies. In the same context, the system of overhang and balance seats will also be abolished. Opposition parties have announced they will challenge the decision in Federal Constitutional Court.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Germany passes law to shrink its XXL parliament – DW – 03/17/2023 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-passes-law-to-shrink-its-xxl-parliament/a-64471203 |access-date=2023-05-07 |website=dw.com |language=en}}</ref>

The first ''Bundestag'' elections were held in the Federal Republic of Germany ("West Germany") on 14 August 1949. Following reunification, [[1990 German federal election|elections for the first all-German ''Bundestag'']] were held on 2 December 1990. The last [[2025 German federal election|federal election]] was held on 23 February 2025.

==Judiciary==
{{main|Judiciary of Germany}}
[[File:Karlsruhe bundesverfassungsgericht.jpg|thumb|Constitutional court in [[Karlsruhe]]]]
Germany follows the [[Civil law (legal system)|civil law tradition]]. The judicial system comprises three types of courts.

* [[Ordinary courts]], dealing with [[criminal law|criminal]] and most [[Private law|civil]] cases, are the most numerous by far. The [[Federal Court of Justice of Germany]] ({{lang|de|Bundesgerichtshof}}) is the highest ordinary court and also the highest court of appeals.
* [[Specialized courts]] hear cases related to [[Administrative law|administrative]], [[Labour law|labour]], social, fiscal and [[patent law]].
* [[Constitutional court]] focus on judicial review and constitutional interpretation. The [[Federal Constitutional Court]] ({{lang|de|Bundesverfassungsgericht}}) is the highest court dealing with constitutional matters.

The main difference between the Federal Constitutional Court and the Federal Court of Justice is that the Federal Constitutional Court may only be called if a constitutional matter within a case is in question (e.g. a possible violation of human rights in a criminal trial), while the Federal Court of Justice may be called in any case.

==Foreign relations==
{{Main|Foreign relations of Germany}}
[[Image:European union emu map en.png|thumb|Germany is a member of the European Union and the [[eurozone]].]]
Germany maintains a network of 229 diplomatic missions abroad and holds relations with more than 190 countries.<ref>[http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/EN/AAmt/Auslandsvertretungen/Uebersicht_node.html German Missions Abroad] German Federal Foreign Office. Retrieved 31 December 2010.</ref> It is the largest contributor to the budget of the [[European Union]] (providing 27%) and third largest contributor to the [[United Nations]] (providing 8%). Germany is a member of the [[NATO]] defence alliance, the [[OECD|Organisation of Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD)]], the [[G7]], the [[G20]], the [[World Bank]] and the [[International Monetary Fund|International Monetary Fund (IMF)]].

Germany has played a leading role in the European Union since its inception and has maintained a [[Franco-German cooperation|strong alliance with France]] since the end of World War II. The alliance was especially close in the late 1980s and early 1990s under the leadership of [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democrat]] [[Helmut Kohl]] and [[Socialist Party (France)|Socialist]] [[François Mitterrand]]. Germany is at the forefront of European states seeking to advance the creation of a more unified European political, defence, and security apparatus.<ref>[http://www.elysee.fr/elysee/anglais/speeches_and_documents/2004/declaration_by_the_franco-german_defence_and_security_council.1096.html Declaration by the Franco-German Defence and Security Council] {{webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20051025215249/http://www.elysee.fr/elysee/anglais/speeches_and_documents/2004/declaration_by_the_franco-german_defence_and_security_council.1096.html |date=25 October 2005 }} Elysee.fr 13 May 3004. Retrieved 3 December 2006.</ref> For a number of decades after WWII, the Federal Republic of Germany kept a notably low profile in international relations, because of both its recent history and its occupation by foreign powers.<ref>Glaab, Manuela.&nbsp;[https://web.archive.org/web/20071121072523/http://en.internationalepolitik.de/archiv/2003/spring2003/german-foreign-policy.html German Foreign Policy: Book Review] Internationale Politik. Spring 2003. Retrieved 3 January 2007.</ref>

[[File:Defense ministers of NATO 2000.jpg|thumb|Defence Ministers of the [[NATO]] member states in 2000, an organisation West Germany joined in 1955]]

During the Cold War, Germany's partition by the [[Iron Curtain]] made it a symbol of East–West tensions and a political battleground in Europe. However, Willy Brandt's ''Ostpolitik'' was a key factor in the ''[[détente]]'' of the 1970s.<ref>Harrison, Hope. {{cite web |url= http://www.ghi-dc.org/files/publications/bu_supp/supp1/supp-01_005.pdf |title=The Berlin Wall, Ostpolitik and Détente |url-status= dead |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20120108170102/http://www.ghi-dc.org/files/publications/bu_supp/supp1/supp-01_005.pdf |archive-date= 8 January 2012 |df= dmy-all }}&nbsp;{{small|(91.1&nbsp;KB)}} German historical institute, Washington, DC, Bulletin supplement 1, 2004, ''American détente and German ostpolitik, 1969–1972''.</ref> In 1999, Chancellor [[Gerhard Schröder]]'s government defined a new basis for German foreign policy by taking a full part in the decisions surrounding the [[Kosovo War|NATO war against Yugoslavia]] and by sending German troops into combat for the first time since World War II.<ref>[http://www.dw-world.de/dw/article/0,2144,1741310,00.html Germany's New Face Abroad] [[Deutsche Welle]]. 14 October 2005. Retrieved 3 December 2006.</ref>

[[File:33rdG8Leaders.jpg|thumb|Chancellor [[Angela Merkel]], the head of government, hosting the [[G8]] summit in [[Heiligendamm]] (2007)]]

The governments of Germany and the United States are close political allies.<ref>[https://2009-2017.state.gov/r/pa/ei/bgn/3997.htm Background Note: Germany] U.S. Department of State. 6 July 2006. Retrieved 3 December 2006.</ref> The 1948 [[Marshall Plan]] and strong cultural ties have crafted a strong bond between the two countries, although Schröder's very vocal opposition to the [[Iraq War]] had suggested the end of [[Atlanticism]] and a relative cooling of German–American relations.<ref>[http://www.economist.com/world/europe/displaystory.cfm?story_id=7141311 ''Ready for a Bush hug?''], [[The Economist]], 6 July 2006. Retrieved 31 December 2006.</ref> The two countries are also economically interdependent: 5.0% of German exports in goods are US-bound and 3.5% of German imported goods originate from the US with a [[Balance of trade|trade deficit]] of -63,678.5 million dollars for the United States (2017).<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.census.gov/foreign-trade/balance/c4280.html|title=Foreign Trade - U.S. Trade in Goods with Germany|website=Website of the United States Census Bureau|access-date=7 October 2018}}</ref> Other signs of the close ties include the continuing position of German–Americans as the largest reported ethnic group in the US,<ref>[https://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001870.html German Still Most Frequently Reported Ancestry] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20100505162835/http://www.census.gov/Press-Release/www/releases/archives/census_2000/001870.html |date=5 May 2010 }} [[U.S. Census Bureau]] 30 June 2004. Retrieved 3 December 2006.</ref> and the status of [[Ramstein Air Base]] (near [[Kaiserslautern]]) as the largest US military community outside the US.<ref>[http://benefits.military.com/misc/installations/Base_Content.jsp?id=1675 Kaiserslautern, Germany Overview] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20111218225851/http://benefits.military.com/misc/installations/Base_Content.jsp?id=1675 |date=18 December 2011 }} U.S. Military. Retrieved 3 December 2006.</ref>

In 1952 the German government agreed to [[Reparations Agreement between Israel and the Federal Republic of Germany|pay reparations]] to the [[Jewish]] state of [[Israel]] amounting to 3 billion [[Deutsche mark|marks]], equivalent to $8.8 billion today, for the costs of "resettling so great a number of uprooted and destitute Jewish refugees" after the [[Second World War]], and for compensating individual Jews for the losses of livelihood and property due to [[Nazi Germany|Nazi]] persecution, after there emerged a clear moral imperative for societal and political leaders to confront the past. Diplomatic relations were eventually established in 1965 after significant reconciliation efforts, particularly from religious institutions such as the [[Deutscher Koordinierungsrat der Gesellschaften für Christlich-Jüdische Zusammenarbeit|German Coordinating-Council for Christian-Jewish cooperation]] and the [[Action Reconciliation Service for Peace]].<ref>{{cite journal |last=Feldman |first=Lily |title=The Principle and Practice of 'Reconciliation' in German Foreign Policy: Relations with France, Israel, Poland and the Czech Republic |journal=International Affairs |volume=75 |issue=2 |pages=333–356 |year=1999 |doi=10.1111/1468-2346.00075 |jstor=2623347 |url=https://www.jstor.org/stable/2623347|url-access=subscription }}</ref> This context means that there is a [[Germany-Israel relations|special relationship between Germany and Israel]] which continues to the present day.<!--(final sentence, efforts on reconciliation will be expanded, unsure whether to softly mention 2023 Israel-Palestine conflict, maybe just mention popular German general support for Israel)-->

The policy on foreign aid is an important area of German foreign policy. It is formulated by the [[Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development]] (BMZ) and carried out by the implementing organisations. The German government sees development policy as a joint responsibility of the international community.<ref>[http://www.bmz.de/en/index.html Aims of German development policy] {{Webarchive|url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310120541/http://www.bmz.de/en/index.html |date=10 March 2011 }} Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development 10 April 2008. Retrieved 7 December 2008.</ref> In 2024 Germany was the second biggest donor of development cooperation after the United States, spending 32.4 billion USD, equivalent to 0.67% of GNI, on [[Official development assistance]].<ref>https://www.oecd.org/en/topics/official-development-assistance-oda.html</ref>

==Administrative divisions==
{{Main|States of Germany}}
{{See also|List of current heads of government of the German federal states}}

Germany comprises [[States of Germany|sixteen states]] that are collectively referred to as {{lang|de|Länder}}.<ref>The individual denomination is either {{lang|de|Land}} [state], {{lang|de|Freistaat}} [free state] or {{lang|de|Freie (und) Hansestadt}} [free (and) Hanseatic city].<br/>{{cite web |url= http://www.bundesrat.de/nn_11006/EN/organisation-en/laender-en/laender-en-node.html?__nnn=true|title= The Federal States|publisher=[[Bundesrat of Germany]]|work = www.bundesrat.de|access-date=17 July 2011}} <br/>{{cite web|url = http://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/DE/Infoservice/Terminologie/Bundeslaender/Uebersicht_node.html|title = Amtliche Bezeichnung der Bundesländer|work = www.auswaertiges-amt.de|publisher = [[Foreign Office (Germany)|Federal Foreign Office]]|language = de|trans-title=Official denomination of federated states|format = PDF; download file "Englisch"|access-date =22 October 2011}}</ref> Due to differences in size and population, the [[States of Germany#Subdivisions|subdivision of these states]] varies especially between [[city-state]]s ({{lang|de|Stadtstaaten}}) and states with larger territories ({{lang|de|Flächenländer}}). For regional administrative purposes five states, namely Baden-Württemberg, Bavaria, Hesse, North Rhine-Westphalia and Saxony, consist of a total of 22 [[Regierungsbezirke|government districts]] ({{lang|de|Regierungsbezirke}}). As of 2009 Germany is divided into 403 [[Districts of Germany|districts]] ({{lang|de|Kreise}}) on municipal level, these consist of 301 [[List of rural districts of Germany|rural districts]] and 102 [[Urban districts of Germany|urban districts]].<ref>{{cite web |url=http://www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/DE/Content/Statistiken/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/Aktuell/04__KreiseAktuell,property=file.xls |title=Kreisfreie Städte und Landkreise nach Fläche und Bevölkerung 31 December 2009 |format=XLS |date=October 2010 |publisher=[[Statistisches Bundesamt]] Deutschland |language=de |access-date=26 September 2011 |url-status=dead |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20110428135732/http://www.destatis.de/jetspeed/portal/cms/Sites/destatis/Internet/DE/Content/Statistiken/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/Aktuell/04__KreiseAktuell%2Cproperty%3Dfile.xls |archive-date=28 April 2011 |df=dmy-all }}</ref>

{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:90%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
!Map (Clickable)
! style="width:140px;"| [[States of Germany|State]] !! style="width:85px;"| Capital !! style="width:85px;"| Area (km<sup>2</sup>)!! style="width:85px;"| Population
|-
| rowspan="16" |{{German Federal States|float=right}}
| [[Baden-Württemberg]] || [[Stuttgart]] || style="text-align:right"|35,752|| style="text-align:right"|10,717,000
|-
| [[Bavaria]] || [[Munich]] || style="text-align:right"|70,549|| style="text-align:right"|12,444,000
|-
| [[Berlin]] || [[Berlin]] ||style="text-align:right"|892|| style="text-align:right"|3,400,000
|-
| [[Brandenburg]] || [[Potsdam]] || style="text-align:right"|29,477|| style="text-align:right"|2,568,000
|-
| [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]] || [[Bremen]] || style="text-align:right"|404|| style="text-align:right"|663,000
|-
| [[Hamburg]] || [[Hamburg]] ||style="text-align:right"|755|| style="text-align:right"|1,735,000
|-
| [[Hesse]] || [[Wiesbaden]] || style="text-align:right"|21,115|| style="text-align:right"|6,098,000
|-
| [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] || [[Schwerin]] || style="text-align:right"|23,174|| style="text-align:right"|1,720,000
|-
| [[Lower Saxony]] || [[Hanover]] || style="text-align:right"|47,618|| style="text-align:right"|8,001,000
|-
| [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] || [[Düsseldorf]] || style="text-align:right"|34,043|| style="text-align:right"|18,075,000
|-
| [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] || [[Mainz]] || style="text-align:right"|19,847|| style="text-align:right"|4,061,000
|-
| [[Saarland]] || [[Saarbrücken]] || style="text-align:right"|2,569|| style="text-align:right"|1,056,000
|-
| [[Saxony]] || [[Dresden]] || style="text-align:right"|18,416|| style="text-align:right"|4,296,000
|-
| [[Saxony-Anhalt]] || [[Magdeburg]] || style="text-align:right"|20,445|| style="text-align:right"|2,494,000
|-
| [[Schleswig-Holstein]] || [[Kiel]] || style="text-align:right"|15,763|| style="text-align:right"|2,829,000
|-
| [[Thuringia]] || [[Erfurt]] || style="text-align:right"|16,172|| style="text-align:right"|2,355,000
|}

==Coalitions==
{{Main|German governing coalition}}
[[File:German state government compositions.svg|thumb|Composition of German states' governing coalitions as of 2024]]

While East-Germany was under a single-party system, there was only a brief period when the SPD governed West-Germany alone on a federal level as a minority party following the dissolution of its coalition with the FDP in 1982.<ref>{{cite news|url=http://content.time.com/time/magazine/article/0,9171,925737,00.html|title=West Germany: Collapse of a Coalition|last=Hoyle|first=Russ|publisher=TIME|date=27 September 1982|accessdate=2024-10-08}}</ref> Otherwise, all governments in West- and post-reunification Germany have been coalitions between two or more parties. In German political tradition, these usually receive a name often based on the parties' colors:

*[[Grand coalition (Germany)|Grand coalition]] (describing a governing coalition of the parties Christian Democratic Union (CDU) along with its sister party the Christian Social Union of Bavaria (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD)) 
*[[Traffic light coalition]] (coalition government of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and Alliance 90/The Greens)
*[[Jamaica coalition (politics)|Jamaica coalition]] (describing a governing coalition among the parties of the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union (CDU/CSU), Free Democratic Party (FDP), and the Green Party)
*[[Black-red-green coalition]] (a governing coalition among the parties of the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), Social Democratic Party (SPD) and the Green Party)
*[[Red–red–green coalition]] (a coalition between the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD), The Left, and Alliance 90/The Greens) 
*[[Red–red coalition]] (a governing coalition among the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) and The Left party or its predecessor, the Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS))

Due to the [[cordon sanitaire (politics)|cordon sanitaire]] (usually called {{Lang|de|Brandmauer}}, firewall, in Germany) all other parties have established against the AfD, hypothetical coalitions involving the AfD are rarely discussed. A coalition of CDU/CSU, AfD and FDP would have had a majority in the [[20th Bundestag]] elected in 2021, but was not seriously discussed publicly by either media or politicians. Such a coalition does not have a common nickname, but the term "Bahamas coalition", in reference to the colors of the [[flag of the Bahamas]] (including the AfD's light blue), was coined in 2013.<ref>{{Cite news|url = https://www.welt.de/politik/bundestagswahl/article119822946/Das-Gespenst-einer-Bahamas-Koalition-geht-um.html|title = Bundestagswahl: Das Gespenst einer Bahamas-Koalition geht um|newspaper = Die Welt|date = 8 September 2013|access-date = 8 December 2021|archive-date = 8 December 2021|archive-url = https://web.archive.org/web/20211208201602/https://www.welt.de/politik/bundestagswahl/article119822946/Das-Gespenst-einer-Bahamas-Koalition-geht-um.html|url-status = live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite news|url=https://www.welt.de/politik/wahl/bundestagswahl/article119926791/Opposition-wittert-Buendnis-zwischen-Union-und-AfD.html|title="Bahamas-Koalition": Opposition wittert Bündnis zwischen Union und AfD|newspaper=Die Welt|date=11 September 2013|access-date=8 December 2021|archive-date=8 December 2021|archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20211208201600/https://www.welt.de/politik/wahl/bundestagswahl/article119926791/Opposition-wittert-Buendnis-zwischen-Union-und-AfD.html|url-status=live}}</ref> Other coalitions involving the AfD are considered even more unlikely due to lack of parliamentary majority, ideological differences and the cordon sanitaire.{{Citation needed|date=December 2021}}

== East–West Divide ==
{{see also|New states of Germany}}
[[File:Btw17afd.svg|thumb|Percentage of {{ill|Zweitstimme|de|lt=party votes}} for AfD in the [[2017 German federal election|2017 federal election]]]]
{{stack|[[File:2024 European Parliament election in Germany - Results.svg|thumb|right|AfD in the [[2024 European Parliament election in Germany]]]]}}
The divide between the East and the West Germany can be seen in contemporary German elections. The [[Alternative for Germany]] (AfD), a far-right party has a stronghold in the former [[East Germany]]. The left-wing populist [[The Left (Germany)|Die Linke]] party (which has roots in the SED) used to have a stronghold in the East as well. The far-right [[National Democratic Party of Germany]] (NPD) used to have representation in the East where they were stronger. This is in stark distinction from West Germany where the more centrist parties such as the [[CDU/CSU]], [[Social Democratic Party of Germany|SPD]], [[Alliance 90/The Greens|The Greens]], and the [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|FDP]] dominate.

== Local government ==
{{Main|District council (Germany)|Municipal council (Germany)}}

==See also==
{{Portal|Germany|European Union}}
* [[Anarchism in Germany]]
* [[Censorship in Germany]]
* [[Conservatism in Germany]]
* [[Firewall against the far-right in Germany]]
* [[Federalism in Germany]]
* [[German governing coalition]]
* [[Liberalism in Germany]]
* [[List of political parties in Germany]]
* [[List of Federal Republic of Germany governments]]
* [[Lobbying in Germany]]
* [[Party finance in Germany]]
* [[Political culture of Germany]]
* [[Prohibited political parties in Germany]]
* [[Anti-fascism]]
** [[Post–World War II anti-fascism]]
* [[Weimar Republic]]
* [[Denazification]]
* [[Municipal council (Germany)]]

==References==
{{Reflist}}

==External links==
* [http://www.bundesregierung.de/Webs/Breg/EN/Homepage/home.html Official Site of the Bundesregierung], in English
* [http://www.bundeswahlleiter.de/e/index_e.htm Official source of election results]
* [http://www.germany.info Official source from the German Embassy in Washington, DC]

{{Germany topics}}
{{Politics of Europe}}
{{Authority control}}

{{DEFAULTSORT:Politics Of Germany}}
[[Category:Politics of Germany| ]]