1. Federal Republic of Germany
Parliament and the Executive

2. Political Science Seminar Series
Title: Enforcing NAFO Regulations: A European Union Perspective
Presented by: Michele Del Zompo, Senior Coordinator of Control Operations with the (EU) Community Fisheries Control Agency
When: Friday, November 16, 2007, 3:00pm
Where: Room A1045

3. This should lay out the argument of the paper in point form
Research papers:
PRELIMINARY OUTLINE
Due Friday, November 16th
This should lay out the argument of the paper in point form

4. Final exam
Saturday, Dec. 8th
9:00-11:00
AA1043

5. Party system: A moderate multiparty system
3-5 parties represented in the Bundestag
Parties disagree on extent of government intervention, as well as foreign policy, but
Substantial areas of agreement
Commitment to social market economy, welfare state

6. The Chancellor Constitutional position -- strong
Elected by the Bundestag (lower house)
Appoints the cabinet
Constitutionally charged with responsibility for overall government policy
Can only be removed through a positive vote of non-confidence (Bundestag must elect a replacement)

7. Limits on the chancellor’s power
Basic law also gives cabinet ministers constitutional responsibility for their own departments
Political limits:
Multiparty politics
Coalition government: In order get power, a chancellor must share power
Need to pilot legislation through both the Bundestag (lower house) and the Bundesrat (Federal Council, in which laender (provincial governments) have a veto

8. German Chancellors Relatively few occupants:
Konrad Adenauer – CDU ( )
Ludwig Erhard – CDU ( )
Kurt Kiesinger – CDU ( )
Willie Brandt – SPD ( )
Helmut Schmidt – SPD ( )
Helmut Kohl – CDU ( )
Gerhard Schroeder – SPD ( )
Angela Merkel (2004-present)

9. Chancellors and their power:
Political position:
Typically:
leader of the largest party
Winner of the last election
Position within cabinet:
Unlike British PM, unable to shuffle at will
However, strong backing from the chancellery – like the Cabinet Secretariat, a strong central agency
Need to maintain political authority within his party and the country as a whole

10. Stronger and weaker chancellors:
Adenauer
Schmidt
Kohl
Middling:
Kiesinger
Brandt
Schroeder
Weaker:
Erhard

11. Gerhard Schroeder’s position
Leads a divided SPD
Narrowly based coalition:
SPD and Greens have a narrow 10 seat majority
Decreasing popularity
Impact of recent provincial elections
Uncertain international stature

12. Comparing the British Prime Minister and the German Chancellor:
Which (if either) is most capable of acting without first securing the consent of others?