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What are the three functions of a political system according toEaston?
Input (electoral participation), Throughput (policy-making process),Output (binding decisions)
What are the two types of democracy identified by Lijphart?
Majoritarian democracy (focus on political action) and Consensusdemocracy (focus on representation)
Name three characteristics of a majoritarian democracy
Two-party systemExecutive dominance over parliamentMajority electoral system
When was the Federal Republic of Germany founded?
May 23, 1949
What are the four main principles of the German Basic Law?
Democracy, Rule of Law, Federalism, Social State.
How can the German Basic Law be amended?
By a two-thirds majority in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat.
What are the five major historical cleavages in Germany’s partysystem?
1. State vs. Church
2. Labor vs. Capital
3. Reform vs. Revolution
4. Materialism vs. Postmaterialism
5. Open vs. Closed Society
What is Germany’s electoral system called?
Personalized proportional representation (Mixed-MemberProportional System - MMPS)
What is the 5% threshold in German elections?
A party must receive at least 5% of the second votes nationwide(or win 3 direct seats) to enter the Bundestag.
What is an overhang seat (Überhangmandat)?
Extra seat a party gets when it wins more direct mandates than itwould receive through proportional representation
What are the three main functions of the Bundestag?
Legislation, Government Oversight, Representation of societal interests.
What is the role of the Bundesrat?
Represents the German states (Länder) and participates in federallegislation.
What is the constructive vote of no confidence?
The Bundestag can only remove the Chancellor by electing a newone with an absolute majority
What is the Federal Constitutional Court’s main task?
To review laws for constitutionality and protect fundamental rights
What are the three main approaches to explaining votingbehavior?
Sociological approach: Based on social group membership.
Psychological approach: Based on party identification.
Economic approach: Based on rational cost-benefit calculations
What is the difference between Bundestag and Bundesrat?
Bundestag: Directly elected parliament, responsible for legislation andgovernment oversight.
Bundesrat: Represents the federal states (Länder) and participates inlegislation affecting state interests.
What is the role of the Federal President?
Mainly ceremonial role.
Represents Germany internationally.
Signs laws and appoints federal officials.
How is the Federal President elected?
By the Federal Convention, consisting of Bundestag members and state representatives
What is a Grand Coalition (Große Koalition)?
A government formed by the two largest parties (e.g., CDU/CSUand SPD).
What are the two types of legislative procedures in Germany?
1. Mandatory approval (Zustimmungsgesetze) – Requires Bundesrat approval.
2. Non-mandatory approval (Einspruchsgesetze) – Bundesrat can object, but Bundestag can override the objection
What is the mediation committee (Vermittlungsausschuss)?
A joint body of Bundestag and Bundesrat that resolves legislative disputes
What is the Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung)?
A body that elects the Federal President, composed of Bundestagmembers and representatives from the states.
What is the Federal Constitutional Court’s main power?
Judicial review – it can declare laws unconstitutional
What is the parliamentary group (Fraktion) in the Bundestag?
A group of at least 5% of MPs from the same party, needed forformal parliamentary rights.
What are the major parties in Germany today?
CDU/CSU (Christian Democrats) – Center-right, conservative.
SPD (Social Democrats) – Center-left, social democracy.
Greens (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen) – Environmentalist, left-liberal.
FDP (Free Democrats) – Classical liberal, pro-business.
The Left (Die Linke) – Socialist, post-communist.
AfD (Alternative für Deutschland) – Right-wing populist
What does “federalism” mean in Germany?
Power is shared between the federal government and the 16 states(Länder), which have their own constitutions and parliaments
How are state governments involved in federal policy-making?
Through the Bundesrat, where they vote on laws affecting their interests
What is cooperative federalism?
A system where federal and state governments work together on policy areas like education and security.
What are Germany’s two main voting principles?
First vote (Erststimme): Elects a direct candidate in a district (majority rule).
Second vote (Zweitstimme): Determines party representation in the Bundestag (proportional representation)
What is an electoral district (Wahlkreis)?
A geographical area where voters elect one direct candidate to theBundestag.
What was the purpose of the 2023 electoral reform?
To limit Bundestag size to 630 members and abolish overhang and compensation seats
How many members are in the Bundestag?
Normally 598, but often more due to overhang and compensationseats.
What is “party financing” in Germany?
Parties receive money from membership fees, donations, and public funding.
What is the “five-percent hurdle” (Fünf-Prozent-Hürde)?
A party must win at least 5% of the second votes (or 3 directmandates) to enter the Bundestag
What is the Chancellor principle (Kanzlerprinzip)?
The Chancellor determines government policy and has authority over ministers
How can the Bundestag remove the Chancellor?
Through a constructive vote of no confidence, where they must elect a new Chancellor at the same time
What is the Bundesbank?
Germany’s central bank, responsible for monetary policy before the Euro
hat is the role of the European Union in German politics?
Germany shares sovereignty with the EU in areas like trade,security, and monetary policy
How does Germany ensure media freedom?
Through constitutional guarantees and independent public broadcasting services (ARD, ZDF)
What is the role of interest groups in Germany?
They influence policy-making through lobbying and participation in legislative processes
What are the two dimensions of governance (Lijphart 1999,2012)?
Executive-party dimension (centralization of power in government).Federal-unitary dimension (distribution of power between national andregional levels
What criteria does Lijphart distinguish to measure governance type? List 5 of 10. To which type does Germany belong?
Germany belongs to a Consensus Democracy
Party system: Multiparty system.
Government: Broad multiparty coalitions.
Executive-legislative relations: Power-sharing between government and parliament.
Electoral system: Proportional representation.
Federalism: Federal and decentralized structure
What were the two (integration) principles after WWII?
1. Western integration – Economic and military alignment with the West (e.g.,NATO, EU).
2. Reconciliation – Strengthening democracy and Franco-German cooperation.
What is the context of the social transformation? Mention two.
1. 1960s-70s student protests & civil rights movements.
2. Economic restructuring & environmental awareness.
What were shocks and crises during the reunification phase? Mention two
Economic crisis Transition from planned to market economy in East Germany.
Right-wing extremism Rise of xenophobic attacks and political tensions.
How are state and European elections labeled?
State elections: Landtagswahlen.
European elections: Europawahlen
What are the two types of electoral systems?
Majoritarian electoral system (winner-takes-all).
Proportional electoral system (seats allocated based on vote percentage).
What are the two chambers?
Bundestag Federal Parliament). Bundesrat Federal Council).
What are the two chambers of the Constitutional Court called?
First Senate Erster Senat).
Second Senate Zweiter Senat).
What are the procedures of the Constitutional Court? List 5 of 10.
Abstract judicial review Examination of laws.
Concrete judicial review Case-related law examination.
Constitutional complaints Individuals challenging laws.
Disputes between federal institutions E.g., government vs. parliament.
Party bans Ruling on the legality of political parties.
How many seats does the Bundesrat have?
69 seats
Which state has the largest parliament?
North Rhine-Westphalia NRW.
Which state has the largest population?
North Rhine-Westphalia NRW.
Do the states have a dual-executive?
No, they have a single executive led by a Minister-President.
Who appoints the federal ministers?
The Federal President, on the recommendation of the Chancellor.
Who appoints the state ministers?
The Minister-President of each state.
What are the trade-offs in the media system?
Independence vs. regulation.
Public vs. private broadcasting influence.
Two types of media broadcasters?
Public broadcasting ARD, ZDF. Private broadcasting RTL, ProSieben).
What forms of media are there? List 3 of 4.
Print media (newspapers, magazines).
Broadcast media (radio, television).
Online media (digital journalism, social media).
What are the two classifications of interest groups?
Pluralist interest groups (competing organizations). Corporatist interest groups (umbrella organizations).
Which types of legislation does the EU have? List 2 of 3.
Regulations Binding laws applied in all member states.
Directives Binding objectives but flexible implementation by states.
The EU experienced different dimensions. List 2 of 3.
Widening Expansion of EU membership.
Deepening Increased integration and common policies.
What are the two legislative procedures?
Mandatory approval Zustimmungsgesetz).
Non-mandatory approval Einspruchsgesetz).
What are the government legislative procedures?
Initiation of laws by government, Bundestag, or Bundesrat.
Bundestag debates and votes on bills.
Possible Bundesrat approval required.
How many members does the Conciliation Committee have?
32 /16 from Bundestag, 16 from Bundesrat).
What is the Bundesrat called in English?
Federal Council.
Which party has the most members?
CDU (as of recent years).
What are the trade-offs of the media?
Independence vs. control, public vs. private influence.
What were the contexts of the societal transformation of Germany?
Student protests and civil rights movements (1960s-70s): Calls for democratic reforms, gender equality, and environmental awareness.
Economic modernization: Shift from industrial to service-oriented economy.
Environmental movement: Rise of Green politics and anti-nuclear activism.
Reunification (1990): Integration of East Germany, economic restructuring, and social adaptation.
Globalization & digitalization: Economic shifts, changing job markets, and increasing migration.
How did the party system change with German unification? Refer to societal context.
Expansion of the party system: The integration of East Germany introduced new political actors, such as the PDS (later Die Linke).
Decline of catch-all parties (Volksparteien): CDU/CSU and SPD saw shrinking vote shares due to increased party fragmentation.
Rise of new political movements: Environmentalism strengthened The Greens, while dissatisfaction in East Germany contributed to the rise of AfD (right-wing populist).
Regional political differences: East German voters leaned towards Die Linke and AfD, reflecting post-reunification economic and social tensions.
Which shocks/crises hit Germany during the reunification phase? Mention two.
Economic crisis:
The transition from a planned economy (GDR) to a market economy led to high unemployment, factory closures, and financial strain in East Germany.
Rise of right-wing extremism:
Economic frustration and social tensions led to a surge in xenophobic attacks and the emergence of far-right groups, particularly in East Germany.
How can the Merkel era be described? What were the challenges?
Merkel era (2005–2021): Characterized by stability, pragmatism, and crisis management.
Key challenges:
Eurozone crisis (2008–2012): Bailouts for struggling EU economies (e.g., Greece), causing domestic controversy.
Refugee crisis (2015): Merkel’s “Wir schaffen das” policy led to political divisions and the rise of right-wing populism (AfD).
COVID-19 pandemic (2020–2021): Public health and economic response, including lockdowns and financial aid programs.
Climate change policies: Transition to renewable energy (Energiewende) and phasing out coal and nuclear power.
Geopolitical tensions: Russia’s increasing aggression and strained US-German relations under Trump.
What parties form the traffic light coalition? Which shocks/crises did it experience?
Traffic light coalition (Ampel-Koalition, since 2021):
SPD (red) – Olaf Scholz (Chancellor).
The Greens (green) – Focus on climate policy.
FDP (yellow) – Pro-business, economic liberalization
Shocks/crises experienced:
Ukraine war (2022): Increased defense spending (Zeitenwende) and energy crisis due to reduced Russian gas imports.
Inflation & economic downturn: Rising costs of living and economic slowdown.
Climate protests & policy disputes: Disagreements within the coalition on environmental policies and heating regulations.
Struggles with migration policy: Debates over stricter asylum policies and integration measures.
