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Politics in Germany

Politics in Germany. Basic Law of 1949. ensure that all major parties are represented proportional representation traditionally used in continental Europe ensure that only major parties are represented avoid fragmentation in the party system of the Weimar Republic

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Politics in Germany

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  1. Politics in Germany

  2. Basic Law of 1949 • ensure that all major parties are represented • proportional representation • traditionally used in continental Europe • ensure that only major parties are represented • avoid fragmentation in the party system of the Weimar Republic • avoid the rise of extremist small parties

  3. Hybrid electoral rules • Two parts in one ballot • One part: • single-member district • candidate with plurality of vote wins • half of Bundestag members are directly elected in this manner

  4. Hybrid electoral rules • Second part: • select a party at the federal level • all second votes are aggregated nationwide • proportional representation • party lists prepared before the election • 5-percent rule • half of Bundestag members are elected as party representatives

  5. ballot • Choose one candidate from the left-hand column • Choose one party at the federal level from the right-hand column

  6. Political parties on the left • Party of Democratic Socialism (PDS) • former Socialist Unity Party of East Germany • Greens/Bundnis ‘90 • Greens • environment • Social Democratic Party • SPD • ruling coalition (SPD & Greens) 1998-2005

  7. Political parties: center & right • Free Democratic Party • FDP • center • Christian Democrats • Christian Democratic Union (CDU) • Christian Social Union (CSU) • current federal chancellor • Angela Merkel (since November 2005)

  8. Election results 1949 - 2002

  9. SPD:        34.3  percent  (2002  38.5%) • CDU:        27.8  percent  (2002  29.5%) • CSU:          7.4  percent  (2002   9.0%) • GRÜNE:     8.1  percent  (2002   8.6%) • FDP:           9.8  percent  (2002   7.4%) • Die Linke.:  8.7  percent  (2002   4.0%) • Others:        3.9  percent  (2002   3.0%)

  10. Federal Chancellor • Chancellor defines government policy • Chancellor controls the Cabinet • 14 federal department ministers • Chancellor recommends the formal appointment or dismissal of ministers • formal policy guidelines are legally binding • composition of Cabinet is a major issue in building a multi-party government

  11. Coalition government

  12. Constructive no-confidence vote • Constructive vote of no-confidence • Bundestag can remove a chancellor under the condition that • majority of Bundestag must agree on a successor • ensure continuity and initial majority support for new chancellor • makes removal of incumbent more difficult

  13. Constructive no-confidence vote • succeeded only once • 1982 • elected Chancellor Kohl (CDU/CSU) • Kohl won 4 elections • replaced by Schroder (SPD) after 1998 election

  14. Federal Constitutional Court • Reviews the constitutionality of legislation • limit the decision-making power of Bundestag • constitutional issues are brought before it • constitutional complaints files by individuals • actual court cases referred by a lower court • federal or state governments or 1/3 of Bundestag deputies can request review of law

  15. Russia U.S. Domestic economy Parliament Constitutional Court Chancellor Cabinet Political parties Interest groups Domestic culture Domestic society Britain France

  16. Interest groups • Integral part of German political process • welcomed as necessary participants • formally involved in policy process • government contact relevant groups when formulating new policies • formal advisory role in public administration • discussion and negotiation of policy plans

  17. Corporatism • Cooperation between government and interest groups • social interests organized into organizations • single association represent each social sector • associations are hierarchically structured

  18. Corporatism • government accept associations as formal representatives • associations may participate directly in the policy process

  19. Peak associations • German Federation of Trade Unions • over 8 million members • 11 unions • Confederation of German Employers’ Associations • 80% of entrepreneurs • represents employers as negotiating partners of the trade unions

  20. Organized capitalism • Unique model of combining state and market • “social market economy” • blur the distinction between the public and private sector

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