Questions on: Germany’s form of state: democratic, social, federal

The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) describes the structure of the state and the distribution of state authority. This includes rules on the Federal Parliament (Bundestag), the Federal Council (Bundesrat) and the courts.

States differ in who holds power and how it is distributed. In a monarchy, a king or queen is at the head. In a dictatorship, one person or party rules without free elections. In a democracy, power comes from the people. A federation distributes tasks between a central government and federal states (Länder) with their own rights. A welfare state makes sure that people in need are protected.

How a state is built says a lot about it. In a centralised state, almost everything is decided from the capital. In a federation, federal states (Länder) join together. Each of these states has its own parliaments, governments and laws, for example for schools and police. Germany has 16 such states. Monarchy, dictatorship and socialist state, by contrast, describe who rules and how the economy is organised.

The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) describes Germany as a democracy with a firm order and many rights. Democracy and the state governed by the rule of law belong closely together.

The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) contains rules on elections, parliaments and courts. These rules have shaped the state order in Germany since 1949.

The structure of the state is laid down in the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). The sections on legislation, administration and the judiciary define the tasks of the bodies.

The constitution assigns bodies with clearly divided tasks to the Federation. These tasks are expressly described in the Basic Law (Grundgesetz).

The term sovereignty refers to the highest, independent sovereign power in a state. Every constitution lays down who holds this power and how it is exercised.

Democratic states set out in their constitutions how political power is acquired and exercised. The Basic Law (Grundgesetz) expressly lays down the principles for this.