Governments / Countries / Germany
How is Germany governed?
Germany is a parliamentary republic. Its head of state is the federal president and its head of government is the federal chancellor. Real power sits with the prime minister.
Questions people ask
- Is Germany a monarchy or a republic?
- Germany is a republic (parliamentary republic).
- Who really rules Germany?
- The prime minister holds the real executive power. Head of state: Federal President. Head of government: Federal Chancellor.
- How is the head of state of Germany chosen?
- Chosen by an electoral college or special assembly.
- Does Germany have a king?
- No. Germany has no monarch; its last monarchy ended in 1918.
- Is Germany a federation?
- Yes, a federation: sovereignty is divided between the centre and states or provinces the centre cannot abolish.
- How many chambers does the parliament of Germany have?
- Two chambers: Bundestag (630 seats) and Bundesrat (69 seats).
- When did Germany become a republic?
- The present republic dates from 1990.
Parliament: Bundestag + Bundesrat
Germany's legislature has two chambers, 699 seats in all. Each dot is one seat; party seat counts are on IPU Parline.
Regime history
One label per period, on Germany's present-day identity.
9622026
| Years | Regime | State |
|---|---|---|
| 962–1806 | Elective monarchy | Holy Roman Empire (emperor chosen by prince-electors) source |
| 1806–1815 | Divided / rival governments | Confederation of the Rhine and Napoleonic rule source |
| 1815–1871 | Traditional monarchy | German Confederation (league of monarchies; North German Confederation from 1867) source |
| 1871–1918 | Constitutional monarchy | German Empire source |
| 1918–1933 | Republic | Weimar Republic source |
| 1933–1945 | Dictatorship | Nazi Germany source |
| 1945–1949 | Foreign occupation | Allied occupation source |
| 1949–1990 | Divided / rival governments | West Germany (federal republic) and East Germany (one-party state) source |
| 1990–today | Republic | Federal Republic of Germany (reunified) source |