brd karteikarten

Political System Functions

• Easton's Three Functions of a Political System:

  • Input: Electoral participation.

  • Throughput: Policy-making process.

  • Output: Binding decisions.

Types of Democracy

• Lijphart's Two Types of Democracy:

  • Majoritarian Democracy:

    • Focuses on political action.

  • Consensus Democracy:

    • Focuses on representation.

Characteristics of Majoritarian Democracy

• Three Key Characteristics:

  1. Two-party system.

  2. Executive dominance over parliament.

  3. Majority electoral system.

Federal Republic of Germany

• Founding Date: May 23, 1949.

• Four Main Principles of the German Basic Law:

  • Democracy.

  • Rule of Law.

  • Federalism.

  • Social State.

• Amendment Process: Requires a two-thirds majority in both the Bundestag and Bundesrat.

Historical Cleavages in Germany's Party System

• Five Major Historical Cleavages:

  1. State vs. Church.

  2. Labor vs. Capital.

  3. Reform vs. Revolution.

  4. Materialism vs. Postmaterialism.

  5. Open vs. Closed Society.

Electoral System

• Germany's Electoral System: Personalized proportional representation (Mixed-Member Proportional System - MMPS).

• 5% Threshold in Elections: A party must receive at least 5% of the second votes nationwide or win 3 direct seats to enter the Bundestag.

• Overhang Seat (Überhangmandat): Extra seat a party gains when it wins more direct mandates than allocated through proportional representation.

Bundestag Functions

• Three Main Functions of the Bundestag:

  • Legislation.

  • Government Oversight.

  • Representation of societal interests.

• Role of the Bundesrat: Represents the German states (Länder) and participates in federal legislation.

• Constructive Vote of No Confidence: Bundestag can only remove the Chancellor by electing a new one with an absolute majority.

• Federal Constitutional Court's Main Task: To review laws for constitutionality and protect fundamental rights.

Voting Behavior Approaches

• Three Main Approaches to Voting Behavior:

  • Sociological Approach: Based on social group membership.

  • Psychological Approach: Based on party identification.

  • Economic Approach: Based on rational cost-benefit calculations.

Differences Between Legislative Bodies

• Difference Between Bundestag and Bundesrat:

  • Bundestag:

    • Directly elected, legislates, oversees government.

  • Bundesrat:

    • Represents federal states, participates in legislative processes affecting state interests.

Role of the Federal President

• Role of the Federal President: Mainly ceremonial; represents Germany internationally, signs laws, and appoints federal officials.

• Election of the Federal President: By the Federal Convention, comprising Bundestag members and state representatives.

Grand Coalition

• Definition of Grand Coalition (Große Koalition): A government formed by the two largest parties, e.g., CDU/CSU and SPD.

Legislative Procedures

• Two Types of Legislative Procedures in Germany:

  1. Mandatory Approval (Zustimmungsgesetze): Requires Bundesrat approval.

  2. Non-Mandatory Approval (Einspruchsgesetze): Bundesrat can object, but Bundestag may override this objection.

Mediation Committee

• Definition of Mediation Committee (Vermittlungsausschuss): Joint body of Bundestag and Bundesrat that resolves legislative disputes.

Federal Convention

• Definition of Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung): A body that elects the Federal President, composed of Bundestag members and representatives from the states.

Powers of the Federal Constitutional Court

• Federal Constitutional Court's Main Power: Judicial review - can declare laws unconstitutional.

Parliamentary Groups

• Definition of Parliamentary Group (Fraktion): A group of at least 5% of MPs from the same party, necessary for formal parliamentary rights.

Major Political Parties in Germany

• Major Parties in Germany Today:

  • CDU/CSU: Center-right, conservative.

  • SPD: Center-left, social democracy.

  • Greens: Environmentalist, left-liberal.

  • FDP: Classical liberal, pro-business.

  • The Left: Socialist, post-communist.

  • AfD: Right-wing populist.

Federalism in Germany

• Definition of Federalism: Power shared between the federal government and 16 states (Länder), each with its own constitution and parliament.

State Government Involvement

• State Governments in Federal Policy-Making: Through the Bundesrat, voting on laws affecting state interests.

Cooperative Federalism

• Definition of Cooperative Federalism: A system where federal and state governments collaborate on areas such as education and security.

Voting Principles

• 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).

Electoral District

• Definition of Electoral District (Wahlkreis): A geographical area from which voters elect one direct candidate to the Bundestag.

Electoral Reform 2023

• Purpose of 2023 Electoral Reform: To limit Bundestag size to 630 members and abolish overhang and compensation seats.

Bundestag Membership

• Normal Members in Bundestag: Typically 598 members, but often more due to overhang and compensation seats.

Party Financing in Germany

• Definition of Party Financing: Parties receive funding from membership fees, donations, and public funding.

Five-Percent Hurdle

• Definition of Five-Percent Hurdle: A party must win at least 5% of second votes or 3 direct mandates to enter the Bundestag.

Chancellor Principle

• Definition of Chancellor Principle (Kanzlerprinzip): The Chancellor sets government policy and has authority over ministers.

Removing the Chancellor

• Process to Remove the Chancellor: Through a constructive vote of no confidence where a new Chancellor must be elected simultaneously.

The Bundesbank

• Definition of Bundesbank: Germany’s central bank, responsible for monetary policy prior to the Euro.

Role of the EU in German Politics

• EU's Role in German Politics: Shares sovereignty with the EU in trade, security, and monetary policy.

Media Freedom in Germany

• Ensuring Media Freedom: Constitutional guarantees and independent public broadcasting (e.g., ARD, ZDF).

Interest Groups in Germany

• Role of Interest Groups: Influence policy-making through lobbying and participating in legislative processes.

Analytical and Historical Foundations

1. Easton's Functions:

   • Input: Electoral participation, interest articulation.

   • Throughput: Policy-making process, government action.

   • Output: Binding decisions, policy implementation.

2. Governance Dimensions:

   • Executive-party dimension (centralization of power).

   • Federal-unitary dimension (distribution of power).

3. Lijphart Criteria for Governance Types:

   • Multi-party system.

   • Broad multiparty coalitions.

   • Power-sharing in executive-legislative relations.

   • Proportional representation in electoral system.

   • Federal and decentralized structure.

   • Germany belongs to Consensus Democracy.

4. Integration Principles Post-WWII:

   • Western integration (economic alignment).

   • Reconciliation (democracy and Franco-German cooperation).

5. Context of Social Transformation:

   • 1960s-70s student protests.

   • Economic restructuring, environmental awareness.

6. Shocks During Reunification:

   • Economic crisis (East Germany transition).

   • Rise of right-wing extremism.