1. Politics in Germany

2. Federal Republic of Germany Population: 82 million Parliamentary republic Federal System Mixed member proportional electoral system

3. A federal system Federal Republic of Germany –federal government (Bund) –16 states (Lander)

4. A federal system Federal Republic is divided into 16 states –10 states (Lander) in the West –6 states (Lander) in the East including Berlin –differences in historical traditions, social structure, dialect, and economy –state jurisdiction in education, culture, law enforcement, and regional planning

5. A federal system

6. A parliamentary system central institution of the federal government bicameral parliament –Bundestag (lower house) –Bundesrat (upper house) Chancellor –chief executive President (has a mostly ceremonial role) German Chancellor Angela Merkel

7. A bicameral parliament Bundestag –primary legislative body –669 deputies –directly elected Bundesrat –represent state governments at the federal level –69 members (3 - 6 per state) –appointed by state governments

8. Electoral System Germany utilizes a system called Mixed Member Proportional. (Hybrid System) Half of the members are elected through FPTP and half through proportional representation where representatives are selected by party lists Germany uses the “5% rule” whereby a party must have at least 5% of the popular vote to have members selected by proportional representation