1. The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Fulbright German Studies Seminar Berlin, June 2009 Isabelle Kuerschner, Ph.D.

2. Elections to the European Parliament multi-member representation with closed party lists The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner

3. Distribution of seats The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner

4. Elections to the „Bundestag“ Mixed-member-electoral-system proportional representation and plurality principle regular number of seats in the Bundestag 598. ◦299 for single seat districts ◦299 for list candidates. The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner

5. The 2005 Bundestags election The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner 34,2% 222 seats 27,8% 180 seats 7,4% 46 seats 8,1% 51 seats 9,8% 61 seats 8,7% 54 seats

6. Elections to the „Bundestag“ voters have the right to cast two votes ◦nominal ballot – first ballot – selects a candidate by plurality in single-member districts. ◦list ballot – the second ballot – is the party vote The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner

7. Elections to the „Bundestag“ The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner

8. Elections to the „Bundestag“ The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner

9. The 2005 Bundestags election The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner 34,2% 222 seats 27,8% 180 seats 7,4% 46 seats 8,1% 51 seats 9,8% 61 seats 8,7% 54 seats

10. Political Parties in the Electoral Process 1. Party system (1950ies – 1983) ◦CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP (two-and-a-half) 2. Party system (1983 – 1990ies) ◦CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP, Greens (two-and-two-halves) 3. Party system (1990ies – today) ◦CDU/CSU, SPD, FDP, Greens, Left Party (two-and-three- halves) The German Electoral System and its Impact on Party Politics Dr. Isabelle Kürschner