Introduction
Germany is a constitutional federal republic, whose political system is laid out in the 1949
constitution called Grundgesetz (Fundamental Law). It has a
parliamentary system in which
the head of government, the
Bundeskanzler (Chancellor),
is elected by the parliament.
Parliament
The German Parliament is made up of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. The supreme legislative body is
the Bundestag (Federal Assembly), the lower house of Parliament, which is elected every four years.
It in turn elects the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler).
The Bundesrat (Federal Council), the upper
house of Parliament, represents the 16 federal states (Bundesländer) and cooperates in law-making
and administering the federation. Its members are appointed by the individual Länder, or states.
Sometimes, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat blocking each other, making effective government very
difficult and lead to a consens driven politics of compromise.
Head of State
The function of head of state is performed by the Federal President (Bundespräsident). He is
elected every five years by the Federal Assembly (the Bundestag plus the corresponding number
of Länder representatives), and his powers are limited mostly to ceremonial and representative
duties.
Federal Constitutional Court
The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht), located in
Karlsruhe, acts as the highest legal authority and ensures
that legislative and judicial practice conforms with the Basic Law, the German constitution.
It acts independently of the other state bodies but cannot act on its own behalf.
Social Welfare
Germany's social welfare system has deep roots, which go back to the strong bonds between
individual and society which grew out of the Reformation, to the revival of the Prussian
state after the 30 Years War, as well as to the early industrial revolution; and the welfare
system remains one of the aspects of the German society of which most Germans are quite proud.
The system provides for universal (but not government-run) medical care, unemployment compensation,
child benefits, and other social needs. As in other Northern/Western European countries with
similar systems, many economists consider a reform process of the Social security system to
be necessary and has become a major theme in domestic politics.
Foreign Affairs
Germany continues to emphasize close ties with the United States, membership in NATO,
maintaining peace through collective security, the "deepening" of integration among current
members of the EU, and expansion of union membership to include central and southern European
neighbours. The FRG took part in all of the joint postwar efforts aimed at closer political,
economic, and defense cooperation among the countries of western Europe. Of particular note
is the Franco-German cooperation.
Germany has been a large net contributor to the EU budget. Germany also is a strong supporter
of the United Nations and of the Organization for Security and Cooperation in Europe (OSCE),
which seeks to reduce tensions and improve relations among the European nations, the U.S.,
and Canada.
The postwar West Germany
also sought to improve its relationship with the countries
of eastern Europe, first establishing trade agreements and, subsequently, diplomatic relations.
With unification, German relations with the new democracies in central and eastern Europe intensified.
On 14. November 1990, Germany and Poland signed a treaty confirming the Oder-Neisse line. They
also concluded a cooperation treaty on 17. June 1991. Germany concluded four treaties with the
Soviet Union covering the overall bilateral relationship, economic relations, the withdrawal of
Soviet troops from the territory of the former GDR,
and German support for those troops. Russia
accepted obligations under these treaties as successor to the Soviet Union.
Germany continues to be active economically in the states of central and eastern Europe, and
to actively support the development of democratic institutions.
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