Bundestag

The Bundestag is the parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. It is based in Berlin and its deputies are elected directly by the people as representatives of the people for a period of four years. The legislative period of the Bundestag is also limited to 4 years. The main tasks of the Bundestag are the election of the Federal Chancellor, the legislation and the control of the federal government. It is the highest federal body and the strongest constitutional body in the Federal Republic of Germany. However, since in Germany use is made of the system of separation of powers, which limits the powers of the Bundestag. First and foremost, he embodies the will of the people (representation).

The members of the Bundestag (Member of the Bundestag) are elected by general, direct, free, equal and secret ballot for 4 years. As representatives of the whole people, they are only obliged to their conscience and receive so-called diets as compensation. They enjoy immunity (protection from prosecution due to the office) and indemnity (exemption from criminal and possibly also civil prosecution). The legal number of members in the Bundestag is 589. However, this number can increase due to overhang mandates. Half of these 589 MPs are determined by direct elections in the individual constituencies. The other half is elected based on the second vote for a party`s state list. However, a party must win at least 5% of the votes or be awarded three direct mandates in order to be represented in the Bundestag. This regulation is considered to be proportional representation.

After the election, the newly elected Bundestag meets under the chairmanship of the oldest member (the senior president), adopts its own rules of procedure and elects a president who represents the Bundestag externally. His duties are also to chair the meetings and to exercise house and police rights in rotation with the elected Vice President. His term of office also ends after 4 years, with the new election of the Bundestag. The Bundestag Presidium consists of the President and the Vice-President. The Council of Elders consists of the President, Vice-President and 23 other MPs.

The Bundestag adopts the federal laws including the budget on the basis of the legislative procedure, it elects the Federal Chancellor, decides on a vote of confidence of the Chancellor or if a no-confidence treaty is placed against him. In addition, he determines the case of defense, elects half of the judges of the Federal Constitutional Court and exercises parliamentary control over the federal government through investigative committees, inquiries, summoning government members before the plenum and the committees. The Bundestag only has a quorum when more than half of its members are present, otherwise the non-quorum is formally established. Most of its work is carried out in the committees, but also partly in the plenum. The MdB are united in fractions according to party affiliation. Every member of the Bundestag is also a member of the Federal Assembly. If one wanted to dissolve the Bundestag prematurely, this would only be possible to a limited extent.

The very first German Bundestag was elected on August 14, 1949.
Since then there have been the following Bundestag Presidents:

• Erich Koehler (1949)
• Hermann Ehlers (1950)
• Eugen Gerstenmaier (1954)
• Kai-Uwe von Hassel (1969)
• Annemarie Renger (1972)
• Karl Carstens (1976)
• Richard Stuecklen (1979)
• Rainer Barzel (1983)
• Philip Jenninger (1984)
• Rita Süssmuth (1988)
• Wolfgang Thierse (1998)
• Norbert Lammert (2005)