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The official question catalogue has 10 questions on this topic. In the app you practise them with instant feedback and in the exam simulation.
What parties do
Parties are associations of people with similar political aims. Article 21 of the Basic Law says that they take part in forming the political will of the people. That means they collect ideas, make proposals and put forward candidates for election.
Why are there several parties? Because they represent the different views of citizens. This way, those views can be debated in the Federal Parliament (Bundestag).
Parties stand in elections and collect votes. Their internal organisation must follow democratic principles, as Article 21 also requires.
The abbreviations: CDU, CSU, SPD and FDP
The abbreviations of the big parties stand for these names:
- CDU: Christlich Demokratische Union Deutschlands (Christian Democratic Union of Germany).
- CSU: Christlich-Soziale Union (Christian Social Union). The CSU is active only in Bavaria (Bayern).
- SPD: Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands (Social Democratic Party of Germany).
- FDP: Freie Demokratische Partei (Free Democratic Party).
The CDU stands in all the federal states (Länder) except Bavaria, the CSU only in Bavaria. In the Federal Parliament, the two form a joint parliamentary group.
Coalitions: when parties work together
One party often does not have enough votes to form a government. Then several parties join forces. This alliance is called a coalition. The partners then agree on a joint government programme.
A parliamentary group is something different. It is an association of members within a parliament. Don’t confuse a coalition with a parliamentary group.
The traffic-light coalition consisted of the SPD, the FDP and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen (Alliance 90/The Greens). The name comes from the colours red, yellow and green, which recall a traffic light. This coalition governed from December 2021 to November 2024.
Fundamental rights apply to majorities too
The Basic Law protects the fundamental rights. One example is freedom of the press under Article 5. A party cannot simply abolish it, not even with a majority in the Federal Parliament: the essence of a fundamental right may never be encroached upon (Article 19).
A party that wants to set up a dictatorship is unconstitutional. The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) decides on this, not the government. This is known as a democracy that is able to defend itself. It protects its basic rules, but does not ban every inconvenient opinion.
When a party can be banned
A party can be banned if it fights against the free democratic basic order. These are the basic rules of democracy. A party is therefore unconstitutional if it wants to abolish or undermine this order. The same applies if it endangers the existence of Germany.
Criticism of politicians, a new party programme or an expensive election campaign are not enough for this. A ban is a serious decision. That is why the Federal Constitutional Court decides on it, and not the government or parliament.
Members of parliament and their party
Members of the Federal Parliament are representatives of the whole people. They are not bound by orders or instructions, as Article 38 of the Basic Law states.
Even so, members of parliament from the same party usually work closely together. To do so, they form a parliamentary group in the Federal Parliament. Only members of parliament belong to it, not party members without a seat.
These 10 questions are in the test
- 12Eine Partei im Deutschen Bundestag will die Pressefreiheit abschaffen. Ist das möglich?
- 20Eine Partei in Deutschland verfolgt das Ziel, eine Diktatur zu errichten. Sie ist dann …
- 31Die Zusammenarbeit von Parteien zur Bildung einer Regierung nennt man in Deutschland …
- 41Warum gibt es in einer Demokratie mehr als eine Partei?
- 43Wann kann in Deutschland eine Partei verboten werden?
- 76Was bedeutet die Abkürzung CDU in Deutschland?
- 78Was bedeutet die Abkürzung SPD?
- 79Was bedeutet die Abkürzung FDP in Deutschland?
- 92Was bedeutet die Abkürzung CSU in Deutschland?
- 103Was wird in Deutschland als „Ampelkoalition“ bezeichnet? Die Zusammenarbeit ...
Each question with its explanation is on the question pages. You can practise with answers in the app.
SourcesGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik DeutschlandGrundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik DeutschlandKoalition - Bundeszentrale für politische BildungFunktion und Aufgabe - Deutscher Bundestag
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