Einbürgerungstest Berlin: the 10 state questions

Berlin's state coat of arms shows an upright black bear with a red tongue and red claws in a silver shield. A golden leaf crown with five leaves sits above the shield.

The bear is Berlin's heraldic animal. It has stood for the city since the Middle Ages.

Berlin is divided into twelve boroughs (Bezirke). This is set out in Article 4(1) of Berlin's constitution. Pankow is one of these boroughs; today's borough is made up of the former boroughs of Prenzlauer Berg, Pankow and Weißensee.

The boroughs each have their own borough council (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung). It is elected together with the House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus).

The House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) is Berlin's state parliament. The regular length of a legislative term is five years. This applies to the House of Representatives and equally to the borough councils (Bezirksverordnetenversammlungen).

The House of Representatives and the borough councils are elected at the same time. So anyone who votes in Berlin votes for both bodies at once.

In Berlin you can vote in the election of the borough council (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung) from the age of 16. The right to vote applies once you have turned 16.

The borough council is elected on the same day as the House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus).

Berlin's state colours are white and red. The state flag shows these two colours.

You will find these colours in the coat of arms too: in the silver shield and the bear's red claws.