The fall of the Nazi regime in 1945 spelled out the end for the old political system of Germany, (whose) dysfunction and manipulation led to untold suffering. A new Germany, established by the Allied Powers, sought to promote and maintain a democratic society. For 70 years, the new German system has succeeded, surviving economic struggles and reunification with the communist East. The country’s success lies in the structure of the government, with its checks and balances for the legislature and the Chancellor, as well as its role in allowing orderly and just elections. The core of Germany’s success comes from its federal system, meaning that the German state governments have real political power in the central government, which manifests
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The Bundestag is the lower house of Germany’s legislative branch and represents the interests of the populace. Not only does the Bundestag elect the Chancellor, proposals for laws must start here, where the lower house will debate on it three times. During this process, committees may amend the original proposal to satisfy the interests of other parties or interest groups. By the third debate, the Bundestag votes and if it meets the necessary number, it passes to the Bundesrat for approval. The Bundestag, like the Bundesrat, also does its part to limit the strength of the federal government. By refining and amending proposals that originate from the government, this ensures that the people also approve of the law. As well, the Bundestag also appoints the Chancellor, who is one of the last officials to sign the act into law. Therefore, because they appoint the head of the executive branch, voters hold substantial power over the federal government and ensure that it is also beholden to …show more content…
Every four years, German citizens are able to vote for parties representing them in the Bundestag. They are given two votes; one for representing their district and the second for adding additional seats to determine the final makeup on the Bundestag. The second vote is the most important, as it allows minority party supporters to obtain representation if their district is won by another party.
The goal of the two-vote system is to provide as accurate proportional representation in the Bundestag as possible. This ensures that all citizens who voted for a party that met the 5% cutoff have a voice in the Bundestag. By keeping the populace at ease, proportional representation serves to strengthen the stability of the political system and win the support of the people.
As to the future of the young democracy, it appears very bright. Early Chancellors such as Konrad Adenauer set a precedent for pragmatism and problem solving to push the country forward. The diversity of political parties represented in the Bundestag allows average citizens to feel like they are part of the political process. The educational system’s portrayal of Germany’s tumultuous history instills a deep distrust of extremism on either side of the political spectrum. All of these factors work in unison to promote a healthy and active political culture that shall stand the test of
The Bundestag is the lower house of Germany’s legislative branch and represents the interests of the populace. Not only does the Bundestag elect the Chancellor, proposals for laws must start here, where the lower house will debate on it three times. During this process, committees may amend the original proposal to satisfy the interests of other parties or interest groups. By the third debate, the Bundestag votes and if it meets the necessary number, it passes to the Bundesrat for approval. The Bundestag, like the Bundesrat, also does its part to limit the strength of the federal government. By refining and amending proposals that originate from the government, this ensures that the people also approve of the law. As well, the Bundestag also appoints the Chancellor, who is one of the last officials to sign the act into law. Therefore, because they appoint the head of the executive branch, voters hold substantial power over the federal government and ensure that it is also beholden to …show more content…
Every four years, German citizens are able to vote for parties representing them in the Bundestag. They are given two votes; one for representing their district and the second for adding additional seats to determine the final makeup on the Bundestag. The second vote is the most important, as it allows minority party supporters to obtain representation if their district is won by another party.
The goal of the two-vote system is to provide as accurate proportional representation in the Bundestag as possible. This ensures that all citizens who voted for a party that met the 5% cutoff have a voice in the Bundestag. By keeping the populace at ease, proportional representation serves to strengthen the stability of the political system and win the support of the people.
As to the future of the young democracy, it appears very bright. Early Chancellors such as Konrad Adenauer set a precedent for pragmatism and problem solving to push the country forward. The diversity of political parties represented in the Bundestag allows average citizens to feel like they are part of the political process. The educational system’s portrayal of Germany’s tumultuous history instills a deep distrust of extremism on either side of the political spectrum. All of these factors work in unison to promote a healthy and active political culture that shall stand the test of