Test yourself
The official question catalogue has 7 questions on this topic. In the app you practise them with instant feedback and in the exam simulation.
Government, Chancellor and Cabinet
The Federal Government consists of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers. Each minister heads a ministry with a particular area of responsibility, for example labour, finance or transport. The ministries prepare laws and implement policy in their area. The government acts on behalf of parliament and is accountable to it.
The Federal Chancellor determines the political guidelines. That is why this person also chairs the Federal Cabinet. In the Cabinet, all the ministers come together for joint meetings. Important government decisions are made there.
Who elects the Federal Chancellor?
The Federal Parliament (Bundestag) elects the Federal Chancellor. Citizens do not elect the Chancellor directly. They elect the members of the Federal Parliament. So voters decide which parties sit in the Federal Parliament.
The procedure is laid down in the Basic Law (Grundgesetz). First the Federal President (Bundespräsident) proposes a person to the Federal Parliament. The Federal Parliament elects this person. Then the Federal President appoints the elected person as Chancellor. The vote in the Federal Parliament shows that parliament supports the government.
The role of the Federal President
The Federal President is the head of state. The Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung) elects him, not the people directly. He appoints the Federal Ministers on the proposal of the Federal Chancellor and also dismisses them (Article 64 of the Basic Law).
He does not, however, run the business of government. That is the task of the Federal Government. The Federal Parliament scrutinises the government, and the Federal President stands above the parties. He represents the state and receives foreign state guests. The most important roles at a glance:
- Federal Chancellor: leads the government and sets the guidelines.
- Federal President: proposes the Chancellor for election and appoints him or her after the election. He also appoints the ministers.
- Federal Parliament: elects the Federal Chancellor.
- Federal Ministers: run their ministries.
Where the government works
The Federal Chancellery and the Federal Parliament have their seat in Berlin. That is why the Federal Chancellor works most often in Berlin. Bonn is another official seat of the Chancellery, but not the main place of day-to-day work. If you want to follow the work of government, you will find most information on the websites of the Federal Government and the Federal Parliament.
Other buildings have other purposes. Bellevue Palace is the official residence of the Federal President. Meseberg Palace is the guesthouse of the Federal Government. The Federal Parliament meets in the Reichstag building in Berlin.
Who is Federal Chancellor today?
As of October 2026, Friedrich Merz is Federal Chancellor. He has been in office since 6 May 2025.
Before him, Federal Chancellors included Olaf Scholz, Angela Merkel, Gerhard Schröder and Helmut Kohl. Who holds the office can change after each federal election.
These 7 questions are in the test
- 58Wer ernennt in Deutschland die Minister / die Ministerinnen der Bundesregierung?
- 70Der deutsche Bundespräsident Gustav Heinemann gibt Helmut Schmidt 1974 die Ernennungsurkunde zum deutschen Bundeskanzler. Was gehört zu den Aufgaben des deutschen Bundespräsidenten / der deutschen Bundespräsidentin?
- 71Wo hält sich der deutsche Bundeskanzler/die deutsche Bundeskanzlerin am häufigsten auf? Am häufigsten ist er/sie ...
- 72Wie heißt der jetzige Bundeskanzler/die jetzige Bundeskanzlerin von Deutschland?
- 81Wer wählt den Bundeskanzler / die Bundeskanzlerin in Deutschland?
- 82Wer leitet das deutsche Bundeskabinett?
- 83Wer wählt den deutschen Bundeskanzler / die deutsche Bundeskanzlerin?
Each question with its explanation is on the question pages. You can practise with answers in the app.
SourcesFriedrich Merz: Bundeskanzler - BundesregierungWo ist der Bundestag? - Deutscher BundestagGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland
Read next
- The Federal President: Head of State in GermanyThe Federal President's duties, election by the Federal Convention, Federal Cross of Merit: explained simply, with questions from the naturalisation test.
- The German Federal Parliament: Duties, Members and OppositionThe Federal Parliament's duties, election of members, parliamentary groups and opposition: explained simply, with questions from the naturalisation test.
- The right to vote and election principles in GermanyWho can vote in Germany, what the active and passive right to vote mean and which five principles every federal election must meet.