Bundesregierung
Welcome to Germany |
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  Photo: picture-alliance / dpa
Die Werra
Germany has been a democratic federal
state since 1949. Some 82 million inhabitants live here. The
official language is German. The currency is the euro. The official
public holiday on 3 October serves as a reminder of Germany's
reunification in 1990.
The political systemThe Basic Law guarantees the basic and human rights of all citizens. The protection of these rights is monitored by the Federal Constitutional Court. All organs of the state are subject to the constitutional order and the decisions of the supreme court. 
Photo: REGIERUNGonline / Bienert
Session in the
German BundestagGermany is a
federal state comprised of 16 federal Länder. Each individual Land
has its own constitution, its own parliament and its own
government. This notwithstanding, supreme public authority rests
with the federation.The structure of German legislative power comprises the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. The delegates of the 16 Länder governments represent the interests of their respective Länder in the federal legislative process by participating in the legislative activity of the Bundesrat. Every four years the citizens of Germany who are 18 years of age or older elect the German Bundestag. As a result of Germany's multi-party system, six political parties are currently represented in the Bundestag. The parties of the governing coalition are the Christian Democratic Union (CDU), the Christian Social Union (CSU) and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The opposition parties are Alliance '90/The Greens, the Free Democratic Party (FDP) and The Left.  Photo:
REGIERUNGonline/Reineke 3 October 1990 –
German reunificationThe Federal
President, who is head of state, is Horst Köhler. As well as
drafting and promulgating laws, he performs primarily a
representative role.Since 2005 Angela Merkel has been Germany's first female Federal Chancellor. She and the Federal Ministers form the Federal Cabinet. Exercising her right to broadly shape policy, the Chancellor presides over the Federal Government. Germany -an attractive destinationGermany has a huge amount to offer the tourist. Its attractions range from numerous nature parks and biosphere reserves, to cultivated landscapes, to the fertile valleys of the Rhine and the Moselle. The North Sea and Baltic coasts provide ideal seaside locations. And the mountains and lakes of the Alpine foothills make the region perfect for hiking. From Einstein to Goethe, this country has produced outstanding personalities in the sciences and the arts. Whether the visitor chooses to follow the trail of the literary greats in Weimar, or experience avant-garde trends in Berlin, Germany's cities have many tales to tell. And it's also worthwhile visiting Germany's numerous castles, churches, monasteries or mansions, such as Neuschwanstein. Baden-WürttembergGermany's diversity is also reflected in its third-largest Land - Baden-Württemberg, which is home to some 10.75 million inhabitants. Along the Rhine it shares a border with France to the west, and along the banks of Lake Constance with Switzerland to the south. Its wealth of idyllic holiday locations once made Baden-Württemberg the home of famous poets such as Schiller and Hölderlin. Baden-BadenThe internationally famous spa resort Baden-Baden, located on the edge of the Black Forest, is home to around 55,000 inhabitants. The trademark of this city, which has its own theatre, festival opera house, town museum, public art gallery, as well as a famous casino, is its high entertainment value. KehlStrasbourg's neighbouring city, Kehl is linked to the French metropolis by the Bridge of Europe. Once a theatre of war, a transboundary park now links this small city of 35,000 inhabitants with its French twin. Kehl's numerous village squares, half-timbered houses and its harbour lend it a distinctive character. Kehl offers a rich programme of entertainments and leisure activities. Links
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