I want to provide a brief primer on the German political system to provide background for a series of articles I'm thinking about. This may not be everyone's cup of beer, but I'll do my best to make it as entertaining as possible. To reward you, dear reader, for your perseverance, there'll be a multiple choice quiz at the end with cash prizes. Ready? Off we go!
1. Representative bodies, elections, etc.
Germany is a federal republic; this means that a significant number of powers are delegated to the 16 states (Bundesländer). Each state has its own parliament (generally known as a Landtag, with a few exceptions). The federal government has a main parliamentary body, the Bundestag (known in English as the Federal Diet; this does not imply that government spending is on a diet). In a federal election each citizen has two votes - the first serves to elect a representative directly based on election districts (there are 299), the second vote is directly for a party (more about them later). A complicated formula divides up the seats based on the directly elected representatives and the percentage of the vote that each party gets. Thanks to this complicated formula the number of representatives actually elected to the Bundestag varies from year to year. At the moment there are 614 representatives. Only parties receiving at least 5% of the second vote get seats (excepting directly elected representatives). The Bundestag comes up for reelection every four years - the exact date of the election is variable.
There's a second federal body called the Bundesrat (Federal Council), roughly comparable to the US Senate. Each state sends six representatives to the Bundesrat; they're not elected directly, but apportioned by the governing coalition in each state. The Bundesrat has the right of approval or rejection of certain legislation - I won't go into details here, mostly because I don't know that much about it. Wikipedia is your friend!
There's also a federal president, whose function is largely ceremonial and advisory (kind of like the Queen of England). The president is elected for a five-year term by the Bundesversammlung, a body convened just for that purpose and consisting of the Bundestag and an equal number of members chosen by the state governments.
2. Political Parties
Since any party receiving 5% of the vote is guaranteed to be represented in the Bundestag, small parties and coalition governments play a large role in the German political system. As far as I can tell it's never happened that one party has been able to govern without forming a coalition with another party (we're talking post-1949 here, of course). It occasionally happens at the state level, especially in Bavaria (which is a special case). Each party is associated with a particular color (just as the colors blue and red are associated with the Democrats and the Republicans, respectively).
The major parties are:
3. Conclusion
This could go on and on, but I hope it's provided enough detail to give a feeling for the German political system. Maybe in future posts I'll expand on this - especially if anyone reading this begs me too. I'm aware of the possibility that my fine readers may beg me not to expand on this - a wish which I would take under consideration, should it be expressed.
Oh yes, the promised quiz? Are you ready? Sharpen your wits...
Which of the following film titles isn't related to a German political party?
Men In Black
Red River Valley
I Am Curious Yellow
How Green Was My Valley
The Blue Lagoon
OK, you can stop clicking the Submit button - it doesn't do anything. Sorry about that. But we'll assume you all got the right answer. As the dodo said, "All must have prizes." Anyone who shows up at my door in Munich is warmly invited for a beer.
1. Representative bodies, elections, etc.
Germany is a federal republic; this means that a significant number of powers are delegated to the 16 states (Bundesländer). Each state has its own parliament (generally known as a Landtag, with a few exceptions). The federal government has a main parliamentary body, the Bundestag (known in English as the Federal Diet; this does not imply that government spending is on a diet). In a federal election each citizen has two votes - the first serves to elect a representative directly based on election districts (there are 299), the second vote is directly for a party (more about them later). A complicated formula divides up the seats based on the directly elected representatives and the percentage of the vote that each party gets. Thanks to this complicated formula the number of representatives actually elected to the Bundestag varies from year to year. At the moment there are 614 representatives. Only parties receiving at least 5% of the second vote get seats (excepting directly elected representatives). The Bundestag comes up for reelection every four years - the exact date of the election is variable.
There's a second federal body called the Bundesrat (Federal Council), roughly comparable to the US Senate. Each state sends six representatives to the Bundesrat; they're not elected directly, but apportioned by the governing coalition in each state. The Bundesrat has the right of approval or rejection of certain legislation - I won't go into details here, mostly because I don't know that much about it. Wikipedia is your friend!
There's also a federal president, whose function is largely ceremonial and advisory (kind of like the Queen of England). The president is elected for a five-year term by the Bundesversammlung, a body convened just for that purpose and consisting of the Bundestag and an equal number of members chosen by the state governments.
2. Political Parties
Since any party receiving 5% of the vote is guaranteed to be represented in the Bundestag, small parties and coalition governments play a large role in the German political system. As far as I can tell it's never happened that one party has been able to govern without forming a coalition with another party (we're talking post-1949 here, of course). It occasionally happens at the state level, especially in Bavaria (which is a special case). Each party is associated with a particular color (just as the colors blue and red are associated with the Democrats and the Republicans, respectively).
The major parties are:
- The Christian Democratic Union (CDU). This party has been in government more often than not since 1949. It's place on the political spectrum is center-right. Federal chancellors belonging to this party include Konrad Adenauer, Helmut Kohl and the current chancellor, Angela Merkel. You could compare this party to the US Republican Party. Its color: black.
- The Social Democratic Party (SPD). This party of the center-left has also provided some famous chancellors, including Willy Brandt, Helmut Schmidt and Gerhard Schröder. It's roughly comparable to the US Democratic Party, traditionally the party of the working class and labor unions. Its color: red.
- The Free Democratic Party (FDP), also known as the "Liberals". The word liberal is applicable in the classic British sense, i.e. a general belief in freedom. This party has been involved in many coalition governments, but since it's relatively small, it's never provided the chancellor (except temporarily). When its in government the German foreign minister often belongs to this party (famous example: Hans-Dietrich Genscher). It tends to go through phases of emphasizing liberal (i.e. libertarian) economic policy, and liberal social policy. It usually gets votes from small businessmen and the self-employed. Its color: yellow.
- The Green Party (officially Alliance '90/The Greens). This party is commited to sound environmental policies. Apart from the environment, it usually tends to liberal social policies and pacifism in foreign affairs. Some party speakers often sound libertarian in their economic philosophy, others are more socialist. Its voters tend to be affluent and highly educated. Guess what its color is?
- The Left. This is perhaps the strangest party among the five that are now represented in the German Bundestag. It was formed from two constituent parties; the PDS (Party of Democratic Socialism), which directly descended from the ruling party of the GDR ("East Germany") joined up with a small splinter group which broke away from the SPD several years ago in disappointment at market-oriented reforms the SPD authored under Gerhard Schröder. Its most prominent leaders are Gregor Gysi, a charismatic attorney who was a member of the ruling party of the GDR, and Oskar Lafontaine, former premier of the Saarland, another charismatic (some might say demagogic) figure. Their supporters are mostly the losers of unification in East Germany, and disgruntled retirees in West Germany. As you might guess, it's policies (which are vague at best) are to the left of the SPD. Its color is also red.
- The Christian Social Union (CSU). Remember where I said above that Bavaria was a special case? This party is the Bavarian sister party of the CDU. It always contests federal elections jointly with the CDU, agreeing with the sister party on the candidate for chancellor. That said, this party has never fielded a German chancellor. Edmund Stoiber, then prime minister of Bavaria, came within several thousand votes in 2002. It tends to be more conservative than the CDU on social issues, but a bit farther to the left on economic issues. Its color is also black. This party has ruled Bavaria continuously since 1949, often without needing a coalition partner. Its traditional voters are the many rural communities of Bavaria.
3. Conclusion
This could go on and on, but I hope it's provided enough detail to give a feeling for the German political system. Maybe in future posts I'll expand on this - especially if anyone reading this begs me too. I'm aware of the possibility that my fine readers may beg me not to expand on this - a wish which I would take under consideration, should it be expressed.
Oh yes, the promised quiz? Are you ready? Sharpen your wits...
Which of the following film titles isn't related to a German political party?
Men In Black
Red River Valley
I Am Curious Yellow
How Green Was My Valley
The Blue Lagoon
OK, you can stop clicking the Submit button - it doesn't do anything. Sorry about that. But we'll assume you all got the right answer. As the dodo said, "All must have prizes." Anyone who shows up at my door in Munich is warmly invited for a beer.
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