How the German Government Works

New Animation! Given the importance of Germany on the global scene, its probably a good idea that we understand how the German government works. So pour yourself a Pils and check our our new animated video about how the German political system works.

Want to learn more about Germany?

[harshithsubramaniam]

So basically, the president is like the queen, and the chancellor is like the Prime Minister right? President is merely ceremonial and chancellor is the real Right?

[TheRealHitmaen]

One Mistake I spotted: the MPs Bundestag and the members of the Bundesrat don't work together to elect the Federal President. He is elected by the so called: Bundesversammlung: an Organ specially designed to elect him.

The Bundesversammlung is comprised of the members of the Bundestag (at least 598) plus an equal number sent of state Representatives (not necessarily the members of the Bundesrat) It can be celebrities etc. So you have a minimum of 1196 people involved. Probably you meant that, but it wasn't stated precisely. Good video all around.

[simong]

title should be titled "How the German Government Works - edited for Americans"

[basicallybored]

I'm a German studying for my English finals bc I might have to compare the UK system with the German one and this has helped me loads thank u lol

[tranquilthoughts]

You may not need fresh air during a blizzard but i certainly do.

[BlackWater_]

2:27 *NO, NO, NO!* He specifically does *_NOT_* have the power to dissolve parliament!
That's the equivalent of saying that the office of President of the United States is hereditary.
The lesson learned from living under the British monarchy was that the top office of the land should NOT be hereditary and it's the same here: The lesson learned from the failure of the Weimar Republic was that the President should NOT have the power to dissolve parliament on his own, not even parliament itself has that power.

Here's what needs to happen for the Bundestag go be dissolved:
1. The Chancellor has to ask the Bundestag to give them a vote of confidence.
2. The vote of confidence has to fail.
3. The Chancellor has to ask the President to dissolve the Bundestags within 21 days of the failed vote of confidence.
4. The President agrees that the Bundestag should be dissolved.
5. The Bundestag does not vote a new Chancellor into office. (read: Art. 68 I GG)

So essentially the Chancellor, the Bundestag and the President all have to work in tandem to dissolve the Bundestag.

And while we're on that topic: No, the President also doesn't have the power to just veto laws.
Yes, he has to sign bills into law but no, the can't just refuse to unless they're formally unconditional i.e. haven't actually passed a vote in the Bundestag (and in some cases the Bundesrat) that's it. Again, he CANNOT just veto laws.

Please so some fucking research before making videos like this.

[sushi]

There are a few mistakes...
1. The President does NOT have a general right to veto laws. He only has a right to veto if a law is evidently unconstitutional, like violating Human Dignity.

2. All the 598 seats in Bundestag are based on the second vote, not just half. Sure, half of the seats will be reserved for the directly voted candidates and the other half for the candidates on the party lists in the respective state. But in the end, all the seats are determined by the second vote because a party cannot have more seats in parliament than their proportion of votes they receive, even if they have theoretically more seats because they have more direct votes than seats earned by their amount of second votes. Thats the reason there are overhang and balancing seats.

3. The President also doesn't have a right to dissolve the Bundestag. He can only dissolve the Bundestag in special cases, like when there is no majority for a chancellor in third ballot in Bundestag. He can either appoint the person with most votes or dissolve the Bundestag. He can also dissolve it when the Chancellor asks for vote of confidence in Bundestag and does not get a majority.

4. Not every state's election period lasts 5 years! Bremen's election period just lasts 4! :P

5. Not the parliaments of the Bundesländer send representatives to the Bundesrat, but the governments of the 16 states...

6. The Bundestag and Bundestag DO NOT elect the Bundespräsident. The President is elected by the Bundesversammlung, the biggest election committee in Germany. One half consisting of all members of Bundestag, the other half of representatives send by the parliaments of the 16 states.

[kalimba]

This was educational. Can you do one on Germany's political parties?

[MrDrAzad]

0:11 Last time I checked, Nepal was Country not lake!

[samuelhawes]

Ah a relatively functional electoral system. As a Brit this actually annoys me lol

[COPKALA]

The Bundesverfassunsgericht decides also on specific cases, not just on constitutionality of laws.
Some years ago the court decided that the interpretation of a law given by a different federal court (federal labour court, BAG) was indeed false.
This was good for workers and turned 180 degrees the historical interpretation of such cases.

[BlackWater_]

2:02 First of all it's state and not local elections, secondly no, those elections don't send representatives into the Bundesrat, the state governments do.

[markussvoboda]

Another mistake: The Chancellor is not "appointed by the President and then voted on by the Bundestag". Instead the President proposes a candidate to the Bundestag who is then voted upon. If he or she is not elected, the Bundestag is free to vote on antoher candidate. The Chancellor elected by the Bundestag in this process is only then appointed by the President.

[ghomeishy]

Liked for the joke on not getting into Berghain

[ismaelisaiornelas]

What a great video! It was very helpful. Thanks! c:

[dinazurli]

Can someone explain to me, how democracy in Germany works? Because i can't found any information in google about it accurately, especially democracy for prosperity.

[mamunurrashid]

"About the size of Montana". Yeah, that seems like a US unite..

[Baccatube]

The Bundestag elects chancelor first, then he is appointed and sworn in by the Bundespräsident. Just to keep the order right.

[rimfire]

I'm noticing that most European countries prioritize a Strong Legislative branch over a strong executive or judicial branch.

[Simon-cgyr]

The president cannot veto a law. He only has the right to get a law checked by the Federal Constitutional Court. If it does not violate the constitution he has to sign it. And he can only dissolve the parliament if the chancellor suggests it to him, and the chancellor cannot just do it like that.