Conventional Name: The Federal Republic of Germany
Capital: Berlin Government Type: federal republic Independence Day: 18 January 1871 (establishment of the German Empire) National Holiday: Unity Day, 3 October Unity Day is celebrated through presentations of food from Germany's numerous regions, political speeches, concerts, communal meals, and fireworks. Unity Day celebrates the day that East and West Germany were once again joined. Chief of Government: Chancellor Angela Merkel |
Head of State: President Joachim Gauck
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The president elected to five year terms (up to two terms) by a federal convention consisting of all members of the Bundestag (federal parliament) and an equal number of delegates elected from state parliaments. The Bundestag also has an absolute vote to determine Chancellor (which is done each four years and the president can make recommendations as to the position of chancellor). The president is not considered apart of the government and holds a largely formal title. The president does hold a veto power if he determines a law unconstitutional but otherwise this role is similar to that of modern European monarchs. The chancellor heads the executive branch and performs all duties of it. The chancellor may not be removed from office unless the Bundestag has already named a successor.
The legislative branch is bicameral with the Bundesrat (federal council) consisting of 69 votes with state governments having 3 to 6 votes based on population and the Bundestag (federal parliament) consisting of 630 representatives elected by popular vote based upon proportional percentage of how each political party received in the vote. Bundesrat is determined by state governments vote. The Bundestag determines legislation and through approval by the Bundesrat it is able to be enforced through local goverments.
The judicial branch's highest courts are the Federal Court of Justice, which consists of 127 judges including the court president, vice-presidents, presiding judges, and other judges, and organized into 25 Senates subdivided into 12 civil panels, 5 criminal panels, and 8 special panels and Bundesverfassungsgericht (federal constitutional court), which consists of 2 Senates each subdivided into 3 chambers, each with a chairman and 8 members. Federal Court of Justice judges are selected by special committee consisting of 16 members selected by the state governments and 16 chosen by the Bundestag with terms that end with mandatory retirement at 65. Bundesverfassungsgericht judges are elected with one half by the Bundestag and one half by the Bundesrag with terms ending with mandatory retirement at 68.
The legislative branch is bicameral with the Bundesrat (federal council) consisting of 69 votes with state governments having 3 to 6 votes based on population and the Bundestag (federal parliament) consisting of 630 representatives elected by popular vote based upon proportional percentage of how each political party received in the vote. Bundesrat is determined by state governments vote. The Bundestag determines legislation and through approval by the Bundesrat it is able to be enforced through local goverments.
The judicial branch's highest courts are the Federal Court of Justice, which consists of 127 judges including the court president, vice-presidents, presiding judges, and other judges, and organized into 25 Senates subdivided into 12 civil panels, 5 criminal panels, and 8 special panels and Bundesverfassungsgericht (federal constitutional court), which consists of 2 Senates each subdivided into 3 chambers, each with a chairman and 8 members. Federal Court of Justice judges are selected by special committee consisting of 16 members selected by the state governments and 16 chosen by the Bundestag with terms that end with mandatory retirement at 65. Bundesverfassungsgericht judges are elected with one half by the Bundestag and one half by the Bundesrag with terms ending with mandatory retirement at 68.
Suffrage: universal 18 years of age
Chief of Mission to the U.S.A.: Ambassador Niels Peter Georg Ammon The German Chancery is located at 2300 M Street NW, Washington, DC 20037 Consulate locations in U.S.A.: Atlanta, Boston, Chicago, Houston, Los Angeles, Miami, New York, and San Francisco. U.S. Chief of Mission to Germany: Ambassador John B. Emerson Embassy location: Clayallee 170, 14191 Berlin Consulate locations in Germany: Dusseldorf, Frankfurt am Main, Hamburg, Leipzig, and Munich. Permanent Representative to the U.N.: Ambassador Dr. Peter Wittig National Symbol: Golden Eagle |
The three equal bands of black, red, and gold are based on the medieval banner of the Holy Roman Empire, which consists of a black eagle with red talons and a red beak against a field of gold.
Germany has no international disputes. Refugees: 113,809 from Serbia, 90,773 from Turkey, 49,829 from Iraq, 40,204 from Russia, 31,746 from Afghanistan, 23,799 from Vietnam, 23,460 from Bosnia and Herzegovina, 21,629 from Iran, 20,059 from Ukraine, 18,165 from Syria, 11,819 from Lebanon, 11,672 from Sri Lanka, 6,575 from Azerbaijan, 6,175 from Macedonia, and 5,206 from the Democratic Republic of the Congo. Internally displaced persons: none Stateless persons: 5,683 Human trafficking issues: none reported by CIA due to its tier 3 status which indicates the meeting of minimum requirements for international human trafficking legislation. Illicit Drug Trafficking Issues: Major financial center. Source of precursor chemicals for Latin American cocaine producers. Transshipment point and consumer of Latin American cocaine, Southwest Asian Heroine, and European synthetic drugs. |