How are the elections in Germany?

Germany is a democratic Europeana state with a complex political system. Decisions in the country can be made at the federal and local levels, each of which has its own executive, judicial and legislative bodies. How are the elections in Germany? This we will find out later.

Federal Republic of Germany

The country is in Western Europe. It is washed by the Northern and Baltic Seas, and is surrounded by Denmark, the Czech Republic, Poland, Austria, Switzerland, Luxembourg, Belgium, the Netherlands and France. Germany is a developed country with a strong economy and a high standard of living.

It belongs to a number of world organizations, such asThe European Union, NATO, the G8. The country is home to 82 million people. The official language is German. The largest cities are Berlin, Hamburg, Cologne, Munich, Bremen, Dusseldorf.

The capital of the state is Berlin, but manyfederal agencies and ministries are located in Bonn. Germany is a democratic, legal, social state, whose form of government is defined as a parliamentary republic.

The system of elections in Germany for the parliament,cabinet, the post of the Chancellor and the President is different. The only body that is elected by direct popular vote is the parliament. Other bodies and positions are elected by authorized persons.

Germany: presidential elections

The president is the head of state. For the first time the post arose in 1949. In February 2017, Frank-Walter Steinmeier was elected. Its official residences are in Berlin and Bonn. Presidential elections in Germany are held every five years with the possibility of one re-election. One person can only hold this post twice.

The function of the chapter is to represent the countrythe world arena, the announcement and signing of laws, the approval of federal employees, officers and judges in office, and the nomination of candidates for the post of Chancellor.

In order to hold elections in Germany,a special body - the Federal Assembly. It consists of an equal number of MPs and delegates from regional parliaments. A candidate with the majority of votes is elected to the post of president. The decision comes into force after taking the oath.

Chancellor's election

The central executive branch is represented bythe government of the country. Its head is the Federal Chancellor. On his shoulders are entrusted the main responsibilities for governing the state, because of what the form of government of the country is often called the Chancellor's democracy. He decides on the way in which Germany should move.

The election of the Chancellor is carried out by the Bundestag(the federal parliament). His powers last 4 years. They can be terminated ahead of time after a constructive vote of no confidence, that is, when most members of parliament recognize disagreement with the policy of the Chancellor.

The head of government can form an officeministers, determine the number of its seats and the scope of activities of ministers. Proposals on their dismissal or appointment, he first gives the president. Since 2005, Angela Merkel has been appointed chancellor.

Bundestag

The Supreme Unicameral Legislature -The Bundestag or the Federal Parliament. Parliamentary elections in Germany are held every four years. He controls the activities of the government, makes and passes laws, chooses the chancellor. Parliamentary bodies include the Presidium (the chairman and his deputies), the Council of Elders, committees, factions, the administration and the police of the Bundestag.

Elections in Germany are held in a mixed system. Half of the deputies are elected by direct secret ballot, the other part passes through lists from each land. Both these stages are connected with each other. The first vote gives an adjustment to the composition of the factions, the second - determines the party structure of power.

Parties represented by5 or more percent of the vote or winning in three single-mandate districts. The total number of seats is 631. The seats for each previous game are calculated according to the method of Saint-Lagu, in accordance with the number of votes they received in the elections.

Bundesrat

The federal status of the country suggests thatimportant decisions in it are taken at two levels: national (federal) and regional. The territory of Germany is divided into 16 lands. In this case, Hamburg, Berlin and Bremen are city-lands. Each of them has its own parliament, executive and judicial power.

Interests of regions in the central parliamentrepresents the Bundesrat. Sometimes it is called the upper house, although it is formally considered that there is only one chamber in the parliament. The Bundesrat is a legislative body that has the right to propose and challenge most of the laws.

This is not an elected body, without a term of office. At present, it is represented by 69 people. From the government of each land in it is sent from 3 to 6 people, depending on its size. The only elective position in the Bundesrat is the post of its chairman. Members of this body elect him for a year.

Landtag and local elections

Parliament of each individual land is calledLandtag. It represents the main legislative body at the regional level. All decisions are taken at a closed plenum, which is held with the participation of factions and deputies.

The lands are divided into cities, rural communities andthe communes in which the self-government bodies are located. Local elections in Germany are conducted by analogy with nationwide elections. Voters vote for the composition of the district, rural and city councils, also called "local parliaments".