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The head of state represents the country
The head of state is the person who represents the state at home and abroad. In Germany that is the Federal President. The most important task is to represent Germany, that is, to speak for it.
The government, by contrast, is led by the Federal Chancellor (Bundeskanzler). Day-to-day governing is therefore not the Federal President's job. His duties include, among others:
- He represents Germany on state visits and receives foreign guests.
- He appoints the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers.
- He authenticates laws, which means he signs them before they come into force.
- He awards orders and decorations.
At home he addresses the population on important occasions, for example on the Day of German Unity on 3 October.
Election by the Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung)
Citizens do not elect the Federal President directly. This is a common mix-up. He is elected by the Federal Convention. It consists of all members of the Federal Parliament (Bundestag) and an equal number of members who are elected by the state parliaments.
By contrast, people entitled to vote directly elect the Federal Parliament, the state parliaments (Landtage) and the European Parliament. The Federal President's term of office lasts five years. A single re-election is possible.
The Federal Convention meets only to elect the head of state. It is convened by the President of the Federal Parliament. Anyone who wants to become Federal President needs a majority of the members of this assembly in the first two rounds of voting. In the third round, winning the most votes is enough.
The current office-holder
As of October 2026, Frank-Walter Steinmeier is Federal President. He was elected in 2017 and re-elected for a second term in 2022. This second term ends in March 2027; after that, the Federal Convention elects a new head of state.
The office is designed to be non-partisan. The Federal President is supposed to speak to everyone in the country, not just to the supporters of one party.
Honours: the Federal Cross of Merit
Anyone who has achieved something outstanding in the political, economic, cultural, intellectual or social field can be honoured. The best-known award for this is the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany. In everyday speech it is called the Federal Cross of Merit.
The order recognises special services to the common good. The Federal President awards it. The award is an official act of the state. Whoever receives the order gets public recognition.
Services can be rendered in many fields. The award shows that the state recognises such commitment.
The office in the Basic Law (Grundgesetz)
The position of the Federal President is regulated by the Basic Law in Articles 54 to 61. They set out the election, term of office and duties. The office is separate from the office of Federal Chancellor: the Federal President represents the state, the Federal Chancellor leads the government.
These 6 questions are in the test
- 44Wen kann man als Bürger / Bürgerin in Deutschland nicht direkt wählen?
- 75Wie heißt Deutschlands heutiges Staatsoberhaupt?
- 84Welche Hauptaufgabe hat der deutsche Bundespräsident / die deutsche Bundespräsidentin? Er / Sie …
- 86Wer wählt in Deutschland den Bundespräsidenten / die Bundespräsidentin?
- 87Wer ist das Staatsoberhaupt der Bundesrepublik Deutschland?
- 102Womit kann man in der Bundesrepublik Deutschland geehrt werden, wenn man auf politischem, wirtschaftlichem, kulturellem, geistigem oder sozialem Gebiet eine besondere Leistung erbracht hat? Mit dem …
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SourcesGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland (Artikel 54)Bundesversammlung und Wahl des Bundespräsidenten - Deutscher BundestagDer Bundespräsident - Aufgaben in DeutschlandVerdienstorden der Bundesrepublik DeutschlandBundespräsident Frank-Walter Steinmeier - Biographie
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