Basic
Law for The Federal Republic of Germany
Promulgated
by the Parliamentary Council on 23 May 1949, as Amended by the Unification
Treaty of 31 August 1990 and Federal Statute of 23 September 1990
(amended by Unification Treaty, 31 August 1990 & federal statute, 23 September 1990)
Conscious of their responsibility before God and Men, Animated by the resolve to serve world peace as an equal partner in a united Europe, the German people have adopted, by virtue of their constituent power, this Basic Law.
The Germans in the Laender of Baden-Wuerttemberg, Bavaria, Berlin, Brandenburg, Bremen, Hamburg, Hesse, Lower Saxony, Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania, North-Rhine-Weststphalia, Rhineland-Paltinate, Saarland, Saxony, Saxony-Anhalt, Schleswig-Holstein, and Thuringia have achieved the unity and freedom of Germany in free self-determination. This Basic Law is thus valid for the entire German People.
(1) The dignity of man is inviolable. To respect and protect it is the duty of all state authority.
(2) The German people therefore acknowledge inviolable and inalienable human rights as the basis of every community, of peace and of justice in the world. (3) The following basic rights bind the legislature, the executive and the judiciary as directly enforceable law.
(1) Everyone has the right to the free development of his personality insofar as he does not violate the rights of others or offend against the constitutional order or the moral code. (2) Everyone has the right to life and to inviolability of his person. The freedom of the individual is inviolable. These rights may only be encroached upon pursuant to a law.
(1) All persons are equal before the law. (2) Men and women have equal rights. (3) No one may be prejudiced or favored because of his sex, his parentage, his race, his language, his homeland and origin, his faith or his religious or political opinions.
(1) Freedom of faith and of conscience, and freedom of creed religious or ideological, are inviolable. (2) The undisturbed practice of religion is guaranteed. (3) No one may be compelled against his conscience to render war service as an armed combatant. Details will be regulated by a Federal law.
(1) Everyone has the right freely to express and to disseminate his opinion by speech, writing and pictures and freely to inform himself from generally accessible sources. Freedom of the press and freedom of reporting by radio and motion pictures are guaranteed. There shall be no censorship.
(2) These rights are limited by the provisions of the general laws, the provisions of law for the protection of youth and by the right to inviolability of personal honor.
(3) Art and science, research and teaching are free. Freedom of teaching does not absolve from loyalty to the constitution.
(1) Marriage and family enjoy the special protection of the state.
(2) Care and upbringing of children are the natural right of the parents and a duty primarily incumbent on them. The state watches over the performance of this duty.
(3) Separation of children from the family against the will of the persons entitled to bring them up may take place only pursuant to a law, if those so entitled fail in their duty or if the children are otherwise threatened with neglect.
(4) Every mother is entitled to the protection and care of the community.
(5) Illegitimate children shall be provided by legislation with the same opportunities for their physical and spiritual development and their position in society as are enjoyed by legitimate children.
(1) The entire education system is under the supervision of the state.
(2) The persons entitled to bring up a child have the right to decide whether they shall receive religious instruction.
(3) Religious instruction forms part of the ordinary curriculum in state and municipal schools, excepting secular schools. Without prejudice to the state's right of supervision, religious instruction is given in accordance with the tenets of the religious communities. No teacher may be obliged against his will to give religious instruction.
(4) The right to establish private schools is guaranteed. Private schools as a substitute for state or municipal schools, require the approval of the state and are subject to the laws of the Laender. This approval must be given if private schools are not inferior to the state or municipal schools in their educational aims, their facilities and the professional training of their teaching staff, and if a segregation of the pupils according to the means of the parents is not promoted. This approval must be withheld if the economic and legal position of the teaching staff is not sufficiently assured.
(5) A private elementary school shall be admitted only if the educational authority finds that it serves a special pedagogic interest or if, on the application of persons entitled to bring up children, it is to be established as an interdenominational or denominational or ideological school and a state or municipal elementary school of this type does not exist in the community
(6) Preparatory schools remain abolished.
(1) All Germans have the right to assemble peacefully and unarmed without prior notification or permission. (2) With regard to open-air meetings this right may be restricted by or pursuant to a law.
(1) All Germans have the right to form associations and societies.
(2) Associations, the objects or activities of which conflict with the criminal laws or which are directed against the constitutional order or the concept of international understanding, are prohibited.
(3) The right to form associations to safeguard and improve working and economic conditions is guaranteed to everyone and to all trades and professions. Agreements which restrict or seek to hinder this right are null and void; measures directed to this end are illegal.
As amended June 24, 1968
(1) Privacy of letters, posts, and telecommunications shall be inviolable.
(2) Restrictions may only be ordered pursuant to a statute. Where a restriction serves to protect the free democratic basic order or the existence or security of the Federation, the statute may stipulate that the person affected shall not be informed of such restriction and that recourse to the courts shall be replaced by a review of the case by bodies and auxiliary bodies appointed by Parliament.
(1) All Germans enjoy freedom of movement throughout the Federal territory.
(2) This right may be restricted only by or pursuant to a statute, and only in cases in which an adequate basis of existence is lacking and special burdens would arise to the community, or in which the restriction is necessary to avert an imminent danger to the existence or the free democratic basic order of the Federation or a Land, to combat the danger of epidemics, to deal with natural disasters or particularly grave accidents, to protect young people from neglect or to prevent crime.
As amended March 19, 1956.
(1) All Germans have the right freely to choose their trade or profession their place of work and their place of training. The practice of trades and professions may be regulate d by law.
(2) No one may be compelled to perform a particular work except within the framework of a traditional compulsory public service which applies generally and equally to all. Anyone who refuses on conscientious grounds to render war service involving the use of arms may be required to render an alternative service. The duration of this alternative service shall not exceed the duration of military service. Details shall be regulated by a law which shall not prejudice freedom of conscience and shall provide also for the possibility of an alternative service having no connection with any unit of the Armed Forces.
(3) Women shall not be required by law to render service in any unit of the Armed Forces. On no account shall they be employed in any service involving the use of arms.
(4) Forced labor may be imposed only in the event that a person is deprived of his freedom by the sentence of a court.
Added 24 June 1968
(1) Men who have attained the age of 18 years may be required to serve in the Armed Forces, in the Federal Border Guard, or in a civil defense organization.
(2) A person who refuses, on grounds of conscience, to render war service involving the use of arms may be required to render a substitute service. The duration of such substitute service shall not exceed the duration of military service. Details shall be regulated by a statute which shall not interfere with freedom to take a decision based on conscience and shall also provide for the possibility of a substitute service not connected with units of the Armed Forces or of the Federal Border Guard.
(3) Persons liable to military service who are not required to render service pursuant to paragraph (1) or (2) of this Article may, during a state of defense (Verteidigungsfall), be assigned by or pursuant to a statute to an employment involving civilian services for defense purposes, including the protection of the civilian population; it shall, however, not be permissible to assign persons to an employment subject to public law except for the purpose of discharging police functions or such other functions of public administration as can only be discharged by persons employed under public law. Persons may be assigned to an employment—as referred to in the first sentence of this paragraph—with the Armed forces, including the supplying and servicing of the latter, or with public administrative authorities; assignments to employment connected with supplying and servicing the civilian population shall not be permissible except in order to meet their vital requirements or to guarantee their safety.
(4) Where, during a state of defense, civilian service requirements in the civilian health system or in the stationary military hospital organization cannot be met on a voluntary basis, women between eighteen and fifty-five years of age may be assigned to such services by or pursuant to a statute. They may on no account render service involving the use of arms.
(5) Prior to the existence of a state of defense, assignments, under paragraph 3 of this Article may only be made where the requirements of paragraph 1 of Article 80a are satisfied. It shall be admissible to require persons by or pursuant to a statute to attend training courses in order to prepare them for the performance of such services in accordance with paragraph 3 of this Article as require special knowledge or skills. To this extent, the first sentence of this paragraph shall not apply.
(6) Where, during a state of defense, staffing requirements for the purposes referred to in the second sentence of paragraph 3 of this Article cannot be met on a voluntary basis, the right of a German to quit the pursuit of his occupation or quit his place of work may be restricted by or pursuant to a statute in order to meet these requirements. The first sentence of paragraph 5 of this Article shall apply mutatis mutandis prior to the existence of a state of defense.
(1) The home is inviolable.
(2) Searches may be ordered only by a judge or, in the event of danger in delay, by other organs as provided by law and may be carried out only in the form prescribed by law.
(3) Otherwise, this inviolability may be encroached upon or restricted only to avert a common danger or a mortal danger to individuals, or, pursuant to a law, to prevent imminent danger to public security and order, especially to alleviate the housing shortage, to combat the danger of epidemics or to protect endangered juveniles.
(1) Property and the rights of inheritance are guaranteed. Their content and limits are determined by the laws.
(2) Property imposes duties. Its use should also serve the public weal.
(3) Expropriation is permitted only in the public weal. It may take place only by or pursuant to law which provides for kind and extent of the compensation. The compensation shall be determined upon just consideration of the public interest and of the interests of the persons affected. In case of dispute regarding the amount of compensation, recourse may be had to the ordinary courts.
Land, natural resources and means of production may for the purpose of socialization be transferred into public ownership or other forms of publicly controlled economy by a law which provides for kind and extent of the compensation. With respect to such compensation Article 14, paragraph. 3, sentences 3 and 4, apply mutatis mutandis.
(1) No one may be deprived of his German citizenship. Loss of citizenship may arise only pursuant to a law, and against the will of the person affected it may arise only if such person does not thereby become stateless. (2) No German may be extradited to a foreign country. Persons persecuted for political reasons enjoy the right of asylum
Everyone has the right individually or jointly with others to address written requests or complaints to the competent authorities and to the representative assemblies.
As amended March 19, 1956.
(1) Laws concerning military services and alternative service may by provisions applying to members of the Armed Forces and of alternative services during their period of military or alternative service, restrict the basic right freely to express and to disseminate opinions by speech, writing, and pictures (Article 5, paragraph (1) first half-sentence), the basic right of assembly (Article 9), and the right of petition Article 17) insofar as it permits to address requests or complaints jointly with others.
(2) Laws for defense purposes, including the protection of the civilian population may provide for the restriction of the basic rights of freedom of movement (Article 11) and inviolability of the home (Article 13).
Whoever abuses freedom of opinion, in particular freedom of the press (Article 5, paragraph 1) freedom of teaching (Article 5, paragraph 3), freedom of assembly (Article 8), freedom of association (Article 9), the secrecy of mail posts and telecommunications (Article 10), property (Article 14), or the right of asylum (Article 16, paragraph 2) in order to attack the free democratic basic order, forfeits these basic rights. The forfeiture and its extent are pronounced by the Federal Constitutional Court.
(1) Insofar as under this Basic Law a basic right may be restricted by or pursuant to a law, the law must apply generally and not solely to an individual case. Furthermore t he law must name the basic right, indicating the Article.
(2) In no case may a basic right be infringed upon in its essential content.
(3) The basic rights apply also to corporations established under German Public law to the extent that the nature of such rights permits.
(4) Should any person's right be violated by public authority, recourse to the court shall be open to him. If no other court has jurisdiction, recourse shall be to the ordinary courts.
(1) The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social Federal state.
(2) All state authority emanates from the people. It is exercised by the people by means of elections and voting and by separate legislative, executive and judicial organs.
(3) Legislation is subject to the constitutional order; the executive and the judiciary are bound by the law.
(4) All Germans shall have the right to resist any person seeking to abolish this constitutional order, should no other remedy be possible. (inserted 24 June 1968)
As amended 21 December 1983
(1) The political parties participate in the forming of the political will of the people. They may be freely established. Their internal organization shall conform to democratic principles. They shall publicly account for the sources of their funds and for their assets.
(2) Parties which, by reason of their aims or the behavior of their adherents, seek or impair or destroy the free democratic basic order or to endanger the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany shall be unconstitutional. The Federal Constitutional Court decides on the question of unconstitutionality.
(3) Details will be regulated by Federal legislation.
The Federal flag is black-red-gold.
(1) The Federation may, by legislation, transfer sovereign powers to international institutions.
(2) For the maintenance of peace, the Federation may join a system of mutual collective security; in doing so it will consent to such limitations upon its sovereign powers as will bring about and secure a peaceful and lasting order in Europe and among the nations of the world.
(3) For the settlement of disputes between nations, the Federation will accede to agreements concerning a general, comprehensive and obligatory system of international arbitration.
The general rules of public international law form part of the Federal law. They take precedence over the laws and directly create rights and duties for the inhabitants of the Federal territory.
(1) Activities tending and undertaken with the intent to disturb peaceful relations between nations, especially to prepare for aggressive war, are unconstitutional. They shall be made a punishable offense.
(2) Weapons designed for warfare may be manufactured, transported or marketed only with the permission of the Federal Government. Details will be regulated by a Federal Law.
All German merchant vessels form one merchant fleet.
(1) The constitutional order in the Laender must conform to the principles of republican, democratic, and social government based on the rule of law, within the meaning of this Basic Law. In each of the Laender, counties and communities, the people must be represented by a body chosen in universal, direct, free, equal and secret ele ctions- In the communities the assembly of the community may take the place of an elected body.
(2) The communities must be guaranteed the right to regulate on their own responsibility all the affairs of the local community within the limits set by law. The associations of communities also have the right of self- government in accordance with the law within the limits of the functions given them by law.
(3) The Federation guarantees that the constitutional order of the Laender conforms to the basic rights and to the provisions of paragraphs (1) and (2).
As amended 19 August 1969 and 23 August 1976)
(1) A new delimitation of federal territory may be made to ensure that the Laender by the size and capacity are able effectively to fulfill the functions incumbent upon them. Due regard shall be given to regional, historical and cultural ties, economic expediency, and the requirements of regional policy and planning.
(2) Measures for a new delimitation of federal territory shall be effected by federal statutes which shall require confirmation by referendum. The Laender thus affected shall be consulted.
(3) A referendum shall be held in the Laender from whose territories or partial territories a new Land or a Land which redefined boundaries is the be formed (affected Laender). The referendum shall be held on the question whether the affected Laender are to remain within their existing boundaries or whether the new Land or Land with redefined boundaries should be formed. The referendum shall be deemed to be in favor of the formation of a new Land or of a Land with redefined boundaries where approval is given to the change by a majority in all the territories or partial territories of an affected Land whose assignment to a Land is to be changed in the same sense. The referendum shall be deemed not to be in favor where change; such rejection shall, however, be of no consequence where in one part of the territory whose assignment of the affected Land is to be changed a majority of two-thirds approve of the change, unless in the entire territory of the affected Land a majority of two-thirds reject the change.
(4) Where in a clearly definable area of interconnected population and economic settlement, the parts of which lie in several Laender and which has a population of at least one million, one tenth of those of its population entitled to vote in Bundestag elections petition by popular initiative for the assignment of that area to one Land, provision shall be made within two years in a federal statute determining whether the delimitation of the affected Laender shall be changed pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article or determining that a plebiscite shall be held in the affected Laender.
(5) The plebiscite shall establish whether approval is given to a change of Laender delimitation to be proposed in the statute. The statute may put forward different proposals, not exceeding two in number, for the plebiscite. Where approval is given by a majority to a proposed change of Laender delimitation, provision shall be made within two years in a federal statute determining whether the delimitation of the Laender concerned shall be changed pursuant to paragraph 2 of this Article. Where approval is given, in accordance with the third and fourth sentences of paragraph 3 of this Article, to a proposal put forward for the plebiscite, a federal statute providing for the formation of the proposed Land shall be enacted within two years of the plebiscite and shall no longer require confirmation by referendum.
(6) A majority in a referendum or in a plebiscite shall consist of a majority of the votes cast, provided that they amount to at least one quarter of the population entitled to vote in Bundestag elections. Other detailed provisions concerning referendums, popular petitions and plebiscites (Volksentscheide, Volksbefragungen) shall be made in a federal statute; such statute may also provide that popular petitions may not be repeated within a period of five years.
(7) Other changes concerning the territory of the Laender may be effected by state agreements between the Laender concerned or by a federal statute with the approval of the Bundesrat where the territory which is to be the subject of a new delimitation does not have more than 10,000 inhabitants. Detailed provision shall be made in a federal statute requiring the approval of the Bundesrat and the majority of the members of the Bundestag. It shall make provision for the affected communes and districts to be heard.
The exercise of governmental powers and the discharge of governmental functions is incumbent on the Laender insofar as this Basic Law does not otherwise prescribe or permit.
Federal law overrides Land law.
(1) The conduct of relations with foreign states is the concern of the Federation. (2) Before the conclusion of a treaty affecting the special interests of a Land, this Land must be consulted in sufficient time. (3) Insofar as the Laender have power to legislate, they may, with the consent of the Federal Government, conclude treaties with foreign states.
(1) Every German has in every Land the same civil rights and duties.
(2) Every German is equally eligible for any public office according to his aptitude, qualifications and professional achievements.
(3) Enjoyment of civil and civic rights eligibility for public office, and rights acquired in the public service are independent of religious denomination. No one may suffer disadvantage by reason of his adherence or non-adherence to a denomination or ideology.
(4) The exercise of state authority as a permanent function shall as a rule be entrusted to members of the public service whose status, service and loyalty are governed by public law.
(5) The law of the public service shall be regulated with due regard to the traditional principles of the permanent civil service.
If any person, in the exercise of a public office entrusted to him, violates his official obligations to a third party, liability rests in principle on the state or the public authority which employs him. In the case of willful intent or gross carelessness the right of recourse is reserved. With respect to the claim for compensation or the right of recourse, the jurisdiction of the ordinary courts must not be excluded.
(1) All Federal and Land authorities render each other mutual legal and administrative assistance.
(2) In order to maintain or to restore public security or order, a Land may, in cases of particular importance, call upon forces and facilities of the Federal Border Guard to assist its police where without this assistance the police could not, or only with considerable difficulty, fulfill a task. In order to deal with a natural disaster or as especially grave accident, a Land may request the assistance of the police forces of other Laender or of forces and facilities of other administrative authorities or of the Federal Border Guard or the Armed Forces (amended 28 July 1972).
(3) Where the natural disaster or the accident endangers a region larger than a Land, the Federal Government may, insofar as this is necessary to effectively deal with such danger, instruct the Land governments to place their police forces at the disposal of other Laender, and may use units of the Federal Border Guard or the Armed Forces to support. The first sentence of this paragraph shall be revoked at any time at the demand of the Bundesrat, and otherwise immediately upon removal of the danger.
As amended March 19, 1956
(1) Civil servants employed in the highest Federal authorities shall be drawn from all Laender in appropriate proportion. Persons employed in other Federal authorities should, as a rule be drawn from the Land in which they serve. (2) Military laws shall take into account the division of the Federal Laender and the latter's particular ethnic conditions.
(1) If a Land fails to comply with its obligations of a Federal character imposed by the Basic Law or another Federal law, the Federal Government may, with the consent of the Bundesrat, take the necessary measures to enforce such compliance by the Land by way of Federal compulsion. (2) To carry out such Federal compulsion the Federal Government or its commissioner has the right to give instructions to all Laender and their authorities.
(1) The deputies to the German Bundestag are elected in universal, direct, free, equal and secret elections. They are representatives of the whole people, are not bound by orders and instructions and are subject only to their conscience. (2) Anyone who has attained the age of twenty one is entitled to vote, anyone who has attained the age of twenty-five is eligible for election. (3) Details will be regulated by a Federal law.
As amended 23 August 1976
(1) The Bundestag is elected for a four-year term. Its legislative term ends with the assembly of a new Bundestag. The new election shall be held forty-five months at the earliest, and forty-seven months at the latest after the beginning of the legislative term. Where the Bundestag is dissolved, the new election shall be held within sixty days.
(2) The Bundestag shall assemble, at the latest, on the thirtieth day after the election.
(3) The Bundestag determines the termination and resumption of its meetings. The President of the Bundestag may convene it at an earlier date. He must do so if one-third of the members, the Federal President or the Federal Chancellor so demand.
(1) The Bundestag elects its President, Vice-Presidents and Secretaries. It draws up its rules of procedure. (2) The President exercises the proprietary and police powers in the Bundestag building. No search or seizure may take place in the premises of the Bundestag without his permission.
(1) The scrutiny of elections is the responsibility of the Bundestag. It also decides whether a deputy has lost his seat in the Bundestag. (2) Against the decision of the Bundestag an appeal can be made to the Federal Constitutional Court. (3) Details will be regulated by a Federal law.
(1) The meetings of the Bundestag are public. Upon a motion of one-tenth of its members, or upon a motion of the Federal Government, the public may, by a two-thirds majority vote, be excluded. The decision on the motion is taken at a meeting not open to the public.
(2) Decisions of the Bundestag require a majority of votes cast unless this Basic law provides otherwise. For the elections to be made by the Bundestag the rules of procedure may provide exemptions.
(3) True and accurate reports of the public meetings of the Bundestag and of its committees shall not give rise to any liability.
(1) The Bundestag and its committees may demand the presence of any member of the Federal Government. (2) The members of the Bundesrat and of the Federal Government as well as persons commissioned by them have access to all meetings of the Bundestag and its committees. They must be heard at any tim e.
(1) The Bundestag has the right, and upon the motion of one-fourth of its members the duty, to set up a committee of investigation which shall take the requisite evidence at public hearings. The public may be excluded.
(2) The rules of criminal procedure shall apply mutatis mutandis to the taking of evidence. The secrecy of the mail, posts and telecommunications remains unaffected.
(3) Courts and administrative authorities are bound to render legal and administrative assistance.
(4) The decisions of the committees of investigation are not subject to judicial consideration. The courts are free to evaluate and judge the facts on which the investigation is based.
Repealed, 23 August 1976
Added March 19, 1956.
(1) The Bundestag shall appoint a Committee on Foreign Affairs and a Committee on Defense. (2nd sentence deleted, 23 August 1976) (2) The Committee on Defense shall also have the rights of a committee on investigation. Upon the motion of one fourth of its members it shall have the duty to make a specific matter the subject of investigation. (3) Article 44 paragraph (1) shall not be applied in matters of defense.
Inserted 17 July 1975
A Defense Commissioner of the Bundestag shall be appointed to safeguard the basic rights and to assist the Bundestag in exercising parliamentary control. Details shall be regulated by a federal statute.
Inserted 17 July 1975
(1) The Bundestag shall appoint a Petitions Committee to deal with requests and complaints addressed to the Bundestag pursuant to Article 17. (2) The powers of the Committee to consider complaints shall be regulated by federal statute.
(1) A deputy may not at any time be prosecuted in the courts or subjected to disciplinary action or otherwise called to account outside the Bundestag on account of a vote cast or an utterance made by him in the Bundestag or one of its committees. This does not apply to defamatory insults.
(2) A deputy may be called to account or arrested for a punishable offense only by permission of the Bundestag, unless he is apprehended in the commission of the offense or during the course of the following day.
(3) The permission of the Bundestag is also necessary for any other restriction of the personal freedom of a duty or for the initiation of proceedings against a deputy under Article 18.
(4) Any criminal proceedings and any proceedings under Article 18 against a deputy, any detention and any other restriction of his personal freedom shall be suspended upon the request of the Bundestag.
Deputies may refuse to give evidence concerning persons who have confided facts to them in their capacity as deputies or to whom they have confided facts in such capacity, as well a concerning these facts themselves. To the extent that this right to refuse to give evidence exists, no seizure of documents may take place.
(1) Any person seeking election to the Bundestag is entitled to the leave necessary for his election campaign. (2) No one may be prevented from accepting and exercising the office of deputy. He may not be dismissed from employment, with or without notice, on this ground. (3) Deputies are entitled to compensation adequate to ensure their independence. They are entitled to the free use of all state owned transport. Details will be regulated by a Federal Law.
Repealed, 23 August 1976
The Laender participate through the Bundesrat in the legislation and administration of the Federation.
(1) The Bundesrat consists of members of the Laender governments which appoint and recall them. Other members of such governments may act as substitutes.
(2) Each Land has at least three votes; Laender with more than two million inhabitants have four, Laender with more than seven million inhabitants, six votes (amended Unification Treaty of 31 August 1990).
(3) Each Land may delegate as many members as it has votes. The votes of each Land may be cast only as a block vote and only by members present or their substitutes.
(1) The Bundesrat elects its President for one year.
(2) The President convenes the Bundesrat. He must convene it if the members for at least two Laender or the Federal Government so demand.
(3) The Bundesrat takes its decisions by at least a majority of its votes It draws up its rules of procedure. Its meetings are public. The public may be excluded.
(4) Other members of, or persons Commissioned by, Laender governments may serve on the committees of the Bundesrat.
The members of the Federal Government have the right, and on demand the duty to take part in the debates of the Bundesrat and of its Committees. They must be heard at any time. The Bundesrat must be currently kept informed by the Federal Government of the conduct of affairs.
Inserted by federal statute of 24 June 1968
(1) Two thirds of the members of the Joint Committee shall be deputies of the Bundestag and one third shall be members of the Bundesrat. The Bundestag shall delegate its deputies in proportion to the relative strength of its parliamentary groups; deputies shall not be members of the Federal Government. Each Land shall be represented by a Bundesrat member of its choice; these members shall not be bound by instructions. The establishment of the Joint Committee and its procedures shall be regulated by rules of procedure to be adopted by the Bundestag and requiring the consent of the Bundesrat.
(2) The Federal Government shall inform the Joint Committee about its plans in respect of a state of Defense. The rights of the Bundestag and its committees under paragraph 1 of Article 43 shall remain unaffected by the provision of this paragraph.
(1) The Federal President is elected, without debate, by the Federal Convention. Every German is eligible who is entitled to vote for the Bundestag and who has attained the age of forty. (2) The term of office of the Federal President is five years. Reelection for a consecutive term is permitted only once. (3) The Federal Convention consists of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members elected by the representative assemblies of the Laender according to the rules of proportional representation. (4) The Federal Convention meets not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of office of the Federal President or, In the case of premature termination, not later than thirty days after this date. It is convened by the President of the Bundestag. (5) After expiration of the legislative term the period specified in paragraph 4, first sentence, begins with the first meeting of the Bundestag. (6) The person receiving the votes of the majority of the members of the Federal Convention is elected. If such majority is not obtained by any candidate in two ballots, the candidate who receives the largest number of votes in a further ballot is elected. (7) Details will be regulated by a Federal law.
(1) The Fed eral President may not be a member of the Government or of a legislative body of the Federation or of a Land. (2) The Federal President may not hold any other salaried office, nor engage in a trade, nor practice a profession, nor belong to the management or ends in any event on the first meeting of a new Bundestag, the tenure of office of a Federal Minister ends also on any other termination of the tenure of office of the Federal Chancellor. (3) At the request of the Federal President, the Federal Chancellor, or at the request of the Federal Chancellor or of the Federal President, a Federal Minister is bound to continue to transact the business of his office until the appointment of a successor.
On assuming his office the Federal President takes the following oath before the assembled members of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat: "I swear that I will dedicate my efforts to the well-being of the German people, enhance its benefits, ward harm from it, uphold and defend the Basic Law and the laws of the Federation, fulfill my duties conscientiously, and do justice to all. So help me God." The oath may also be taken without religious affirmation.
If the Federal President is prevented from exercising his powers or if his office falls prematurely vacant his powers will be exercised by the President of the Bundesrat.
Orders and decrees of the Federal President require for their validity the countersignature of the Federal Chancellor or the appropriate Federal minister. This does not apply to the appointment and dismissal of the Federal Chancellor, the dissolution of the Bundestag under Article 63 and the request under Article 69, paragraph 3.
(1) The Federal President represents the Federation in its international relations. He concludes treaties with foreign states on behalf of the Federation. He accredits and receives envoys. (2) Treaties which regulate the political relations of the Federation or relate to matters of Federal legislation require the consent or participation, in he form of a Federal law, of the bodies competent in any specific case for such Federal legislation. For administrative agreements the provisions concerning the Federal administration apply mutatis mutandis.
Repealed
As amended March 19 1956
(1) The Federal President appoints and dismisses the Federal judges the Federal civil servants, the officers and non-commissioned officers, unless otherwise provided for by law. (2) He exercises the power of pardon on behalf of the Federation in individual cases. (3) He may delegate these powers to other authorities. (4) Paragraphs 2 to 4 of Article 46 apply mutatis mutandis to the Federal President.
(1) The Bundestag or the Bundesrat may impeach the Federal President before the Federal Constitutional Court for willful violation of the Basic Law or any other Federal law. The motion for impeachment must be brought forward by at least one-fourth of the members of the Bundestag or one-fourth of the votes of the Bundesrat. The decision to impeach requires a majority of two-thirds of the members of the Bundestag or of two-thirds of the votes of the Bundesrat. The prosecution is conducted by a person commission by the impeaching body. (2) If the Federal Constitutional Court finds the Federal President guilty of a willful violation of the Basic Law or of another Federal law it may declare him to have forfeited his office. After impeachment, it may issue an interim order preventing the Federal President from exercising the powers of his office.
The Federal Government consists of the Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers.
(1) The Federal Chancellor is elected, without debate, by the Bundestag on the proposal of the Federal President. (2) The person obtaining the votes of the majority of the members of the Bundestag is elected. The persons elected must be appointed by the Federal President. (3) If the person proposed is not elected, the Bundestag may elect within fourteen days of the ballot a Federal Chancellor by more than one-half of its members. (4) If there is no election within this period, a new ballot shall take place without delay in which the person obtaining the largest number of votes is elected. If the person elected obtained the votes of the majority of the members of the Bundestag the Federal President must appoint him within Seven days of the election. If the person elected did not receive this majority, the Federal President must within even days either appoint him or dissolve the Bundestag
(1) The Federal Ministers are appointed and dismissed by the Federal President upon the proposal of the Federal Chancellor. (2) The Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers, on assuming office, take before the Bundestag the oath provided in Article 56.
The Federal Chancellor determines and is responsible for general policy. Within the limits of this general policy, each Federal Minister conducts the business of his department autonomously and on his own responsibility. The Federal Government decides on differences of opinion between the Federal Ministers. The Federal Chancellor conducts the business of the Federal Government in accordance with rules of procedure adopted by it and approved by the Federal President.
Amended 24 June 1968
Power of command in respect of the Armed Forces shall be vested In the Federal Minister of Defense.
The Federal Chancellor and the Federal Ministers may not hold any other salaried office, nor engage in a trade, nor practice a profession, nor belong to the management or, without the consent of the Bundestag, to the board of directors of an enterprise carried on for profit.
(1) The Bundestag can express its lack of confidence in the Federal Chancellor only by electing a successor by the majority of its members and by requesting the Federal President to dismiss the Federal Chancellor. The Federal President must comply with the request and appoint the person elected. (2) Forty-eight hours must elapse between the motion and the election.
(1) If a motion of the Federal Chancellor for a vote of no confidence is not assented to by the majority of the members of the Bundestag, the Federal President may, upon the proposal of the Federal Chancellor, dissolve the Bundestag within twenty-one days. The right to dissolve lapses as soon as the Bundestag by the majority of its members elects another Federal Chancellor. (2) Forty-eight hours must elapse between the motion and the vote thereon.
(1) The Federal Chancellor appoints a Federal Minister as his deputy. (2) The tenure of office of the Federal Chancellor or a Federal Minister
(1) The Laender have the power to legislate insofar as this Basic Law does not confer legislative powers on the Federation. (2) The division of competence between the Federation and the Laender is determined by the provisions of this Basic Law concerning exclusive and concurrent legislative powers.
On matters within the exclusive legislative powers of the Federation the Laender have authority to legislate only if, and to the extent that, a Federal law explicitly so authorizes them .
(1) On matters within the concurrent legislative powers the Laender have authority to legislate as long as, and to the extent that the Federation does not use its legislative power. (2) The Federation has the right to legislate on these matters to the extent that a need for a Federal rule exists because 1. a matter cannot be effectively dealt with by the legislation of individual Laender, or 2. dealing with a matter by Land law might prejudice the interests of other Laender or of the entire community, or 3. the maintenance of legal or economic unity, especially the maintenance of uniformity of living conditions beyond the territory of a Land necessitates it.
As amended 24 June 1968.
The Federation has the exclusive power to legislate on:
1. foreign affairs and defense, including the protection of the civilian population;
2. citizenship in the Federation;
3. freedom of movement, passports, immigration and emigration, and extradition;
4. currency, money and coinage, weights and measures, as well as computation of time;
5. the unity of the customs and commercial territory, commercial and navigation agreements, the freedom of movement of goods, and the exchange of goods and payment with foreign countries, including customs and frontier protection;
6. Federal railroads and air traffic;
7. postal and telecommunication services;
8. the legal status of persons employed by the Federation and by Federal bodies-corporate under public law;
9. industrial property rights, copyrights and publication rights;
10. cooperation of the Federation and the Laender in matters of (a) criminal police, (b) protection of the free democratic basic order, of the existence and the security of the Federation or a Land (protection of the constitution) and (c) protection against activities in the federal territory which, through the use of force or actions in preparation for the use of force, endanger the foreign interests of the Federal Republic of Germany, as well as the establishment of a Federal Criminal Police Office and the international control of crime;
11. statistics for Federal purposes.
Concurrent legislative powers extend to the following matters:
1. civil law, criminal law and execution of sentences, the system of judicature, the procedure of the courts, the legal profession, notaries and legal advice;
2. registration of births, deaths, and marriages;
3. the law of association and assembly;
4. the law relating to residence and establishment of aliens;
4a. the law relating to weapons and explosives; (inserted 28 July 1972 and amended 23 August 1972).
5. the protection of German cultural treasures against removal abroad;
6. the affairs of refugees and expellees;
7. public welfare;
8. citizenship in the Laender;
9. war damage and reparations;
10. benefits to war-disabled persons and to dependents of those killed in the war, assistance to former prisoners of war, and care of war graves;
10a. war graves of soldiers, graves of other victims of war and of the victims of despotism; (inserted 16 June 1965)
11. the law relating to economic matters (mining, industry, supply of power. crafts. trades, commerce, banking and stock exchanges, private insurance);
11a. the production and utilization of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes, the construction and operation of installations serving these purposes, protection against dangers arising from the release of nuclear energy or from ionizing rays, and removal of radioactive material;
12. Labor law, including the legal organization of enterprises; protection of workers, employment exchanges and agencies, as well as social insurance, including unemployment insurance;
13. the regulation of educational and training grants and the promotion of scientific research; (as amended 12 May 1969)
14. the law regarding expropriation, to the extent that matters enumerated in Articles 73 and [Article] 74 are concerned;
15. transfer of land, natural resources and means of production into public ownership or other forms of publicly controlled economy;
16. prevention of the abuse of economic power;
17. promotion of agricultural and forest production, safeguarding of the supply of food, the import and export of agricultural and forest products, deep sea and coastal fishing, and preservation of the coasts;
18. dealings in real estate, land law and matters concerning agricultural leases, housing, settlements and homesteads;
19. measures against epidemic and infectious diseases of humans and animals, admission to medical and other professions and practices in the field of healing, traffic in drugs, medicines, narcotics, and poisons;
19a. the economic viability of hospitals and the regulation of hospitalization fees; (inserted 12 May 1969)
20. protection with regard to traffic in food and stimulants as well as in necessities of life, in fodder, in agricultural and forest seeds and seedlings, and protection of trees and plants against diseases and pests;
21. ocean and coastal shipping as well as aids to navigation, inland shipping, meteorological services, sea waterways and inland waterways used for general traffic;
22. road traffic, motor transport, construction and maintenance of long distance highways, as well as the collection of charges for the use of public highways by vehicles and the allocation of revenue therefrom; (amended 12 May 1969)
23. railroads other than Federal railroads, except mountain railroads.
24. waste disposal, air pollution control and noise abatement. (amended 12 May 1969)
(1) Concurrent legislative power shall further extend to the remuneration and pensions of members of the public service whose service and loyalty are governed by public law, insofar as the Federation does not have exclusive power to legislate pursuant to item 8 of Article 73. (2) Federal statutes enacted pursuant to paragraph (1) of this Article shall require the consent of the Bundesrat. (3) Federal statutes enacted pursuant to item 8 of Article 73 shall likewise require the consent of the Bundesrat, insofar as for the structure and assessment of remuneration and pensions, including the rating of posts, provision is made for criteria or minimum or maximum rates other than those provided for in federal statutes enacted pursuant to paragraph (I) of this Article. (4) Paragraphs (1) and (2) of this Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to the remuneration and pensions of judges in the Laender. Paragraph (3) of this Article shall apply mutatis mutandis to statutes enacted pursuant to paragraph (1) of Article 98.
As amended 18 March 1969
Subject to the conditions of Article 72 the Federation has the right to enact general rules concerning:
1. the legal status of persons in the public service of the Laender, communities other corporate bodies of public law, insofar as Article 74a does not provide otherwise;
1a. the general principles governing higher education. (inserted 12 May 1969)
2. the general rules of law concerning the s tatus of the press and motion pictures;
3. hunting, protection of nature and care of the countryside;
4. land distribution, regional planning and water conservation;
5. matters relating to registration and identity cards.
As amended 15 November 1968 and 12 May 1969)
(1) Bills are introduced in the Bundestag by the Federal Government, by members of the Bundestag or by the Bundesrat. (2) Bills of the Federal Government shall be submitted first to the Bundesrat. The Bundesrat is entitled to state its position on these bills within six weeks. (3) Bills of the Bundesrat shall be submitted to the Bundestag by the Federal Government within 3 months. In doing so the Federal Government shall state its own views.
As amended 15 November 1968
(1) Federal laws are adopted by the Bundestag. Upon their adoption, they shall, without delay, be transmitted to the Bundesrat by the President of the Bundestag. (2) The Bundesrat may, within three weeks of the receipt of the adopted bill, demand that a committee for joint consideration of bills, composed of members of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, be convened. The composition and the procedure of this committee are regulated by rules of procedure adopted by the Bundestag and requiring the consent of the Bundesrat. The members of the Bundesrat on this committee are not bound by instructions. Where the consent of the Bundesrat is required for a law, the demand for convening this committee may also be made by the Bundestag or the Federal Government. Should the committee propose any amendment to the adopted bill, the Bundestag must again vote on the bill. (3) Insofar as the consent of the Bundesrat is not required for a law, the Bundesrat may, if the proceedings under paragraph 2 are completed, enter a protest within two weeks against a law adopted by the Bundestag. This period begins, in the case of paragraph 2, last sentence, on the receipt of the bill as re-adopted by the Bundestag, in all other cases on the receipt of a communication from the chairman of the committee provided for in paragraph (2) of this Article to the effect that the committee's proceedings have been concluded. (4) If the protest is adopted by a majority of the votes of the Bundesrat, it can be rejected by a decision of the majority of the members of the Bundestag. If the Bundesrat adopted the protest by a majority of at least two-thirds of its votes, the rejection by the Bundestag requires a majority of two-thirds, including at least the majority of the members of the Bundestag.
A bill adopted by the Bundestag is deemed to have been passed if the Bundesrat consents to it, does not make a demand pursuant to Article 77, paragraph 2, does not enter a protest within the time limited by Article 77 paragraph 3, or withdraws such protest, or if the protest is overridden by the Bundestag.
As amended March 27, 1954.
(1) The Basic law can be amended only by a law which expressly amends or supplements the text thereof.
With respect to international treaties the subject of which is a peace settlement, the preparation of a peace settlement or the abolition of an occupation regime, or which are designed to serve the defense of the Federal Republic, it shall be sufficient, for the purpose of a clarifying interpretation to the effect that the provisions of the Basic Law are not contrary to the conclusion and entry into force of such treaties, to effect a supplementation of the Basic Law confined to this clarifying interpretation.
(2) Such a law requires the affirmative vote of two thirds of the members of the Bundestag and two-thirds of the votes of the Bundesrat.
(3) An amendment of this Basic Law affecting the division of the Federation into Laender, the participation in principle of the Laender in legislation, or the basic principles la id down in Articles 1 and 20, is inadmissible.
(1) The Federal Government, a Federal Minister or the Land Governments may be authorized by a law to issue ordinances having the force of law. The content, purpose and scope of the powers conferred must be set forth in the law. The legal basis must be stated in the ordinance. If a law provides that a power may be further delegated, an ordinance having the force of law is necessary in order to delegate the power. (2) The consent of the Bundesrat is required unless otherwise provided by Federal legislation, for ordinances having the force of law issued by the Federal Government or a Federal Minister concerning basic rules for the use of facilities of the Federal railroads and of postal and telecommunication Services, or charges therefore, or concerning the construction and operation of railroads, as well as for ordinances having the force of law issued on the basis of Federal laws that require the consent of the Bundesrat or that are executed by the Laender as agents of the Federation or as masters of their own concern.
Inserted by federal statute of 24 June 1968.
(1) Where this Basic Law or a federal statute on Defense, including the protection of the civilian population, stipulates that legal provisions may only be applied in accordance with this Article, their application shall, except in a state of Defense, be admissible only after the Bundestag has determined that a state of tension (Spannungsfall) exists or where it has specifically approved such application. In respect of the cases mentioned in the first sentence of paragraph (5) and the second sentence of paragraph (6) of Article 12a, such determination of a state of tension and such specific approval shall require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast. (2) Any measures taken by virtue of legal provisions enacted under paragraph (1) of this Article shall be revoked whenever the Bundestag so demands. (3) In derogation of paragraph (1) of this Article, the application of such legal provisions shall also be admissible by virtue of and in accordance with a decision taken with the consent of the Federal Government by an international body within the framework of a treaty of alliance. Any measures taken pursuant to this paragraph shall be revoked whenever the Bundestag so demands with the majority of its members.
(1) Should in the circumstances of Article 68 the Bundestag not be dissolved, the Federal President may, at the request of the Federal Government and with the consent of the Bundesrat, declare a state of legislative emergency with respect to a bill, if the Bundestag rejects the bill although the Federal Government has declared it to be urgent. The same applies if a bill has been rejected although the Federal Chancellor had combined with it the motion under Article 68. (2) If, after a state of legislative emergency has been declared, the Bundestag again rejects the bill or adopts it in a version declared to be unacceptable to the Federal Government the bill is deemed to have been passed insofar as the Bundesrat consents to it. The same applies if the bill is not adopted by the Bundestag within four weeks of its reintroduction. (3) During the term of office of a Federal Chancellor, any other bill rejected by the Bundestag may be passed in accordance with paragraphs 1 and 2 within a period of six months after the first declaration of a state of legislative emergency. After expiration of this period, a further declaration of a state of legislative emergency is inadmissible during the term of office of the same Federal Chancellor. (4) The Basic Law may not be amended nor be repealed nor suspended in whole or in part by a law Passed pursuant to paragraph 2.
(1) Laws passed in accordance with the p rovisions of this Basic Law will, after countersignature, be signed by the Federal President and promulgated in the Federal Gazette. Ordinances having the force of law will be signed by the agency which issues them, and unless otherwise provided by law, will be promulgated in the Federal Gazette. (2) Every law and every ordinance having the force of law should specify its effective date. In the absence of such a provision, it becomes effective on the fourteenth day after the end of the day on which the Federal Gazette was published.
The Laender execute Federal laws as matters of their own concern insofar as this Basic Law does not otherwise provide or permit.
(1) If the Laender execute Federal laws as matters of their own concern, they provide for the establishment of authorities and the regulation of administrative procedures insofar as Federal laws consented to by the Bundesrat do not otherwise provide. (2) The Federal Government may, with the consent of the Bundesrat, issue general administrative rules. (3) The Federal Government exercises supervision to ensure that the Laender execute Federal laws in accordance with applicable law. For this purpose the Federal Government may send commissioners to the highest Land authorities and, with their consent or, if this consent is refused, with the consent of the Bundesrat, also to subordinate authorities. (4) Should any shortcomings which the Federal Government has found to exist in the execution of Federal laws in the Laender not be corrected, the Bundesrat decides, on the application of the Federal Government or the Land whether the Land has acted unlawfully. The decision of the Bundesrat may be challenged in the Federal Constitutional Court. (5) For the execution of Federal laws, the Federal Government may, by Federal law requiring the consent of the Bundesrat, be authorized to issue individual instructions for particular cases. They must be addressed to the highest Land authorities unless the Federal Government considers the matter urgent.
(1) Where the Laender execute Federal laws as agents of the Federation, the establishment of the authorities remains the concern of the Laender insofar as Federal laws consented to by the Bundesrat do not otherwise provide. (2) The Federal Government may with the consent of the Bundesrat, issue general administrative rules. It may regulate the uniform training of civil servants and salaried government employees The heads of authorities at Intermediate level shall be appointed with its agreement. (3) The Land authorities are subject to the instructions of the appropriate highest Federal authorities. The instructions shall be addressed to the highest Land authorities unless the Federal Government considers the matter urgent. Execution of the instructions shall be ensured by the highest Land authorities. (4) Federal supervision extends to the conformity with law and appropriateness of the execution. The Federal Government may, for this purpose, require the submission of reports and documents and send commissioners to all authorities.
Where the Federation executes laws by Federal administrative agencies or by Federal bodies-corporate or institutions under public law, the Federal Government issues, insofar as the law contains no special provision, the general administrative rules. It provides for the establishment of authorities insofar as the law does not otherwise provide.
(1) The foreign service the Federal finance administration, the Federal railroads, the Federal postal service and, in accordance with the pr ovisions of Article 89, the administration of the Federal waterways and of shipping are conducted as matters of Federal administration with their own subordinate administrative structure, Federal frontier protection authorities and central offices for police information and communications, for the compilation of data for the purpose of protecting the Constitution and for the criminal police may be established by Federal legislation. (2) Social insurance institutions whose sphere of competence extends beyond the territory of one Land are conducted as Federal bodies-corporate under public law. (3) In addition, independent Federal higher authorities and Federal bodies-corporate and institutions under public law may be established by Federal law for matters on which the Federation has the power to legislate. If new functions arise for the Federation in matters on which it has the power to legislate, Federal authorities at intermediate and lower level may be established in case of urgent need, with the consent of the Bundesrat and of the majority of the members of the Bundestag.
Added March 19, 1956.
(1) The Federation shall establish Armed Forces for Defense purposes. Their numerical strength and general organizational structure shall be shown in the budget. (2) Apart from Defense, the Armed Forces may only be used insofar as explicitly permitted by this Basic Law. (3) While a state of Defense or a state of tension exists, the Armed Forces shall have the power to protect civilian property and discharge functions of traffic control insofar as this is necessary for the performance of their Defense mission. Moreover, the Armed Forces may, when a state of Defense or a state of tension exists, be entrusted with the protection of civilian property also in support of police measures; in this event the Armed Forces shall cooperate with the competent authorities. (4) In order to avert any imminent danger to the existence or to the free democratic basic order of the Federation or a Land, the Federal Government may, should conditions as envisaged in paragraph (2) of Article 91 obtain and the police forces and the Federal Border Guard be inadequate, use the Armed Forces to support the police and the Federal Border Guard in the protection of civilian property and in combating organized and militantly armed insurgents. Any such use of the Armed Forces shall be discontinued whenever the Bundestag or the Bundesrat so demands.
Added March 19, 1956.
(1) The administration of the Federal defense Forces shall be conducted as a Federal administration with its own administrative substructure. Its function shall be to administer matters pertaining to personnel and to the immediate supply of the material requirements of the Armed Forces. Tasks connected with benefits to invalids or construction work shall not be assigned to the administration of the Federal Defense Forces except by Federal legislation which shall require the consent of the Bundesrat. Such consent shall also be required for any legislative provisions empowering the administration of the Federal Defense Forces to interfere with rights of third parties: this shall, however, not apply in the case of laws concerning personnel. (2) Moreover, Federal laws concerning defense including recruitment for military service and protection of the civilian population may, with the consent of the Bundesrat, stipulate that they shall be carried out, wholly or in part, either under Federal administration with its own administrative substructure or by the Laender acting as agents of the Federation. If such laws are executed by the Laender acting as agents of the Federation, they may, with the consent of the Bundesrat, stipulate that the powers vested by virtue of Article 85 in the Federal Government and appropriate highest Federal authorities shall be transferred wholly or partly to higher Federal authorities in such an event it may be enacted that these authorities shall not require the consent of the Bundesrat in issuing general administrative rules as referred to in Article 85 paragraph (2) first sentence.
Inserted 23 December 1959
Laws enacted under item 11a of Article 74 may, with the consent of the Bundesrat stipulate that they shall be executed by the Laender acting as agents of the Federation.
Added 6 February 1961
(1) The Aviation Administration shall be administered by the Federation. (2) By Federal law requiring the consent of the Bundesrat, the functions of the Aviation Administration may be assigned to the Laender as agents of the Federation.
The Federation establishes a note-issuing and currency bank as the Federal bank.
(1) The Federation is the owner of the former Reich waterways. (2) The Federation administers the Federal waterways through its own authorities. It exercises the public functions relating to inland shipping which extend beyond the territory of one Land and those relating to maritime shipping which are conferred on it by law. Upon request, the Federation may transfer the administration of Federal waterways insofar as they lie within the territory of one Land, to this Land as an agent. If a waterway touches the territories of several Laender the Federation may designate as its agent one Land if so requested by the Laender concerned. (3) In the administration, development and new construction of waterways the needs of soil cultivation and of regulating water supply shall be safeguarded in agreement with the Laender .
(1) The Federation is the owner of the former Reich motor roads and Reich highways. (2) The Laender, or such self-governing bodies-corporate as are competent under Land law, administer as agents of the Federation the Federal motor roads and other Federal highways used for long-distance traffic. (3) At the request of a Land, the Federation may take under direct Federal administration Federal motor roads and other Federal highways used for long-distance traffic, insofar as they lie within the territory of the Land.
As amended 1968
(1) In order to avert any imminent danger to the existence or to the free democratic basic order of the Federation or of a Land, a Land may request the services of the police forces of other Laender or of the forces and facilities of other administrative authorities and the Federal Border Guard. (2) If the Land in which the danger is imminent is not itself willing or able to fight the danger, the Federal Government may place the police in that Land and the police forces of other Laender under its own instructions and use units of the Federal Border Guard. The order for this shall be rescinded after the danger is past, or else at any time on the demand of the Bundesrat. Where the danger extends to a region larger than a Land, the Federal Government may, insofar as is necessary for effectively combating such danger, issue instructions to the Land governments; the first and second sentences of this paragraph shall not be affected by this provision.
(1) The Federation shall participate. in the following sectors, in the discharge of responsibilities of the Laender, provided that such responsibilities are important to society as a whole and that federal participation is necessary for the improvement of living conditions (joint tasks): 1. extension and construction of institutions of higher education, including university clinics; 2. improvement of regional economic structures; 3. improvement of the agrarian structure and of coast preservation.
(2) Joint tasks shall be defined in detail by a federal statute requ iring the consent of the Bundesrat. Such legislation should include general principles governing the discharge of joint tasks. (3) Such legislation shall provide for the procedure and the institutions required for joint overall planning. The inclusion of a project in the overall planning shall require the consent of the Land in which it is to be carried out. (4) In cases to which items I and 2 of paragraph (1) of this Article apply, the Federation shall meet one half of the expenditure in each Land. In cases to which item 3 of paragraph (1) of this Article applies, the Federation shall meet at least one half of the expenditure, and such proportion shall be the same for all the Laender. Details shall be regulated by statute. Provision of funds shall be subject to appropriation in the budgets of the Federation and the Laender. (5) The Federal Government and the Bundesrat shall be informed about the execution of joint tasks, should they so demand.
The judicial authority is vested in the judges; it is exercised by the Federal Constitutional Court, by the Supreme Federal Court, by the Federal courts provided for in this Basic Law and by the courts of the Laender.
(1) The Federal Constitutional Court decides: 1. on the interpretation of this Basic Law in the event of disputes concerning the extent of the rights and duties of a supreme Federal organ or of other parties concerned who have been endowed with independent rights by this Basic Law or by rules of procedure of a supreme Federal organ; 2. in case of differences of opinion or doubts on the formal and material compatibility of Federal law or Land law with this Basic law, or on the compatibility of Land law with other Federal law, at the request of the Federal Government, of a Land government or of one-third of the Bundestag members; 3. in case of differences of opinion on the rights and duties of the Federation and the Laender, particularly in the execution of Federal law by the Laender and in the exercise of Federal supervision; 4. on other disputes of public law between the Federation and the Laender between different Laender or within a Land, unless recourse to another court exists; 4a. on complaints of unconstitutionality, which may be entered by any person who claims that one of his basic rights or one of his rights under paragraph (4) of Article 20 or under Article 33, 38, 101, 103, or 104 has been violated by public authority; 4b. on complaints of unconstitutionality entered by communes or associations of communes on the ground that their right to self-government under Article 28 has been violated by a statute other than a Land statute open to complaint to the respective Land constitutional court; 5. in the other cases provided for in this Basic Law.
(2) The Federal Constitutional Court shall also act in such cases as are otherwise assigned to it by Federal law.
(1) The Federal Constitutional Court consists of Federal judges and other members. Half of the members of the Federal Constitutional Court are elected by the Bundestag and half by the Bundesrat. They may not belong to the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, the Federal Government or the corresponding organs of a Land. (2) Its constitution and procedures will be regulated by a Federal law, which will specify in what cases its decisions shall have the force of law.
Amended 18 June 1968
(1) To preserve the uniformity of application of Federal law, a a Supreme Federal Court will established. (2) The Supreme Federal Court decides cases in which the decision is fundamental importance for the uniformity of the administration of justice by the higher Federal courts. (3) The judges of the Supreme Federal Court are selected jointly by the Federal Minister of justice and a committee for the selection of judges consisting of the Land Ministers of justice and an equal number of members elected by the Bundestag. (4) In other respects the constitution of the Supreme Federal Court and is procedure will be regulated by Federal legislation.
As amended 26 August 1969
(1) The Federation may establish a federal court for matters concerning industrial property rights. (2) The Federation may establish military criminal courts for the Armed Forces as federal courts. They may only exercise criminal jurisdiction while a state of defence exists, and otherwise only over members of the Armed Forces serving abroad or on board warships. Details shall be regulated by federal statute. These courts shall be within the competence of the Federal Minister of Justice. Their full-time judges shall be persons qualified to hold judicial office. (3) The highest court of justice for appeals from the courts mentioned in paragraphs (I) and (2) of this Article shall be the Federal Court of Justice. (4) The Federation may establish federal courts for disciplinary proceedings against, and for proceedings in pursuance of complaints by, persons in the federal public service. (5) In respect of criminal proceedings under paragraph ( I ) of Article 26 or involving the protection of the State, a federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat may provide that Land courts shall exercise federal jurisdiction.
(1) The judges are independent and subject only to the law. (2) Judges appointed permanently on a full time basis to an established post can, against their will, be dismissed, or permanently or temporarily suspended from office or transferred to another post or retired before expiration of their term of office only under authority of a judicial decision and only on grounds and in the form provided by law. Legislation may set age limits for the retirement of judges appointed for life. In the event of changes in the structure of the courts or their areas of jurisdiction, judges may be transferred to another court or removed from their office, provided they retain their full salary.
As amended 18 March 1971
(1) The legal status of the Federal judges shall be regulated by a Special Federal law. (2) If a Federal judge, in his official capacity or unofficially, infringes upon the principle of the Basic Law or the constitutional order of a Land, the Federal Constitutional Court may decide by a two-thirds majority, upon the request of the Bundestag, that the judge be transferred to another office or placed on the retired list. In a case of an intentional infringement. his dismissal may be ordered. 3) The legal status of the judges in the Laender shall be regulated by special Land laws. The Federation may enact outline provisions, insofar as paragraph (4) of Article 74a does not provide otherwise. (4) The Laender may provide that the Land Minister of Justice together with a committee for the selection of judges shall decide on the appointment of judges in the Laender. (5) The Laender may, with respect to Land judges, enact provisions corresponding with paragraph 2. Existing Land constitutional law remains unaffected. The decision in a case of impeachment of a judge rests with the Federal Constitutional Court.
As amended 18 June 1968
The decision on constitutional disputes within a Land may be assigned by a Land law to the Federal Constitutional Court, and the decision of last instance in matters involving the application of Land law, to the higher Federal courts of justice referred to in paragraph (1) of Article 95.
As amended 18 June 1968
(1) Where a court considers a law unconstitutional, the validity of which is relevant to its decision, the proceedings shall be stayed, and a decision shall be obtained from the Land court competent for constitutional disputes if the matter concerns the violation of the constitution of a Land, or from the Federal Constitutional Court if the matter concerns the violation of the Basic Law. This also applies if the matter concerns the violation of this Basic Law by Land law or the incompatibility of a Land law with a Federal law. (2) If, in the course of litigation doubt exists whether a rule of public international law forms part of the Federal law and whether such rule directly creates rights and duties for the individual (Article 25), the court shall obtain the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court. (3) Where the constitutional court of a Land, in interpreting the Basic Law, intends to deviate from a decision of the Federal Constitutional Court or of the constitutional court of another Land, it must obtain the decision of the Federal Constitutional Court.
(1) Extraordinary courts are inadmissible. No one may be removed from the jurisdiction of his lawful judge. (2) Courts for special fields may be established only by law.
Capital punishment is abolished.
(1) In the courts everyone is entitled to a hearing in accordance with the law. (2) An act can be punished only if it was a punishable offense by law before the act was committed. (3) No one may be punished for the same act more than once in pursuance of general penal legislation.
(1) The freedom of the individual may be restricted only on the basis of a formal law and only with due regard to the forms prescribed therein. Detained persons may be subjected neither to mental nor to physical ill-treatment. (2) Only judges may decide on admissibility or extension of a deprivation of liberty. Where such deprivation is not based on the order of a judge, a judicial decision must be obtained without delay. The police my hold no one on their own authority in their own custody longer than the end of the day after the arrest. Details shall be regulated by legislation. (3) Any person provisionally detained on-suspicion of having committed a punishable offense must be brought before a judge at the latest on the day following the arrest; the judge shall inform him of the reasons for detention, examine him and give him an opportunity to raise objections. The judge must, without delay, either issue a warrant of arrest setting forth the reasons therefore or order the release from detention. (4) A relative of the person detained or a person enjoying his confidence must be notified without delay of any judicial decision ordering or extending a deprivation of liberty.
(1) The Federation and the Laender shall separately meet the expenditure resulting from the discharge of their respective tasks insofar as this Basic Law does not provide otherwise. (2) Where the Laender act as agents of the Federation, the Federation shall meet the resulting expenditure. (3) Federal statutes to be executed by the Laender and granting money payments may make provision for such payments to be met wholly or in part by the Federation. Where any such statute provides that the Federation shall meet one half of the expenditure or more, it shall be implemented by the Laender as agents of the Federation. Where any such statute provides that the Laender shall meet one quarter of the expenditure or more, it shall require the consent of the Bundesrat. (4) The Federation may grant the Laender financial assistance for particularly important investments by the Laender or communes or associations of communes, provided that such investments are necessary to avert a disturbance of the overall economic equilibrium or to equalize differences of economic capacities within the federal territory or to promote economic growth. Details, especially conc erning the kinds of investments to be promoted, shall be regulated by a federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat or by administrative arrangements under the federal budget law. (5) The Federation and the Laender shall meet the administrative expenditure incurred by their respective authorities and shall be responsible to each other for ensuring proper administration. Details shall be regulated by a federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat.
As amended 12 May 1969
(1) The Federation has the exclusive power to legislate on customs and fiscal monopolies. (2) The Federation shall have concurrent power to legislate on all other taxes the revenue from which accrues to it wholly or in part or where the conditions provided for in paragraph (2) of Article 72 apply. (2a) The Laender shall have power to legislate on local excise taxes as long and insofar as they are not identical with taxes imposed by federal legislation. (3) Federal laws relating to taxes the yield of which accrues in whole or in pan to the Laender or the communities (community associations) requite the consent of the Bundesrat.
As amended December 23, 1955 and December 24 1956
(1) The yield of fiscal monopolies and receipts from the following tares shall accrue to the Federation:
(2) Receipts from the following taxes shall accrue to the Laender:
(3) Receipts from income tax and corporation tax shall accrue: until 31 March 1958, to the Federation and the Laender in a ratio of 33 1/3 per cent to 65 per cent, and from 1 April 1958, to the Federation and the Laender in a ratio of 35 per cent to 65 per cent.
(4) The ratio of appointment of the income and corporation taxes paragraph (3) should be modified by a Federal law requiring the consent of the Bundesrat whenever the development of the relation of revenues to expenditures in the Federation differs from that in the Laender and whenever the budgetary needs of the Federation or those of the Laender exceed the estimated revenues by a margin substantial enough to call for a corresponding adjustment of the ratio of apportionment in favor of either the Federation or the Laender. Any such adjustment shall be based on the following principles:
The ratio of apportionment may be modified for the first time with effect from I April 1958 and subsequently at intervals of not less than two years after the entry into force of any law determining such ratio; provided that this stipulation shall not affect any no tification of such ratio effected in accordance with paragraph (5).
(5) If a Federal law Imposes additional expenditures on, or withdraws revenues from the Laender, the ratio of apportionment of the income and corporation taxes shall be modified m favor of the Laender, provided that conditions as envisaged in paragraph (4) have developed. If the additional burden placed upon the Laender is limited to a period of short duration, such burden may be compensated by grants from the Federation under a Federal law requiring the consent of the Bundesrat and which shall lay down the principles for assessing the amounts of such grants and for distributing the them among the Laender.
(6) Receipts from taxes on real estate and businesses shall accrue to the communes. In case there are no communes in a Land the receipts shall accrue to the Land. In accordance with Land legislation, taxes on real estate and businesses may be used to ascertain assessments and surtaxes. The receipts of the Laender from income tax and corporation tax shall accrue to the communes and associations of communes in a percentage to be determined by Land legislation. Furthermore, the Land legislation shall determine whether and how much of the receipts of the Land taxes shall accrue to the communes (associations of communes).
(7) If the Federation establishes special institutions in the Laender or communes (association of communes) which cause immediate higher expenditures or lower receipts to those Laender or communes (associations of communes), the Federation shall grant the necessary financial equalization, if and insofar it is anticipated that the Laender or communes (associations of communes) are unable to bear these special burdens. Compensation by a third party and financial advantages which accrue to these Laender or communes (associations of communes as a consequence of these institutions shall be considered in such equalization. (8) For the purposes of the present Article, revenues and expenditures of communes (associations of communes) shall be deemed to be Land revenues and expenditures
As amended 12 May 1969
(1) Revenue from Land taxes and the Land share of revenue from income and corporation taxes shall accrue to the individual Laender to the extent that such taxes are collected by revenue authorities within their respective territories (local revenue). A federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat may provide in detail for the delimitation as well as the manner and scope of allotment of local revenue from corporation and wage taxes. Such statute may also provide for the delimitation and allotment of local revenue from other taxes. The Land share of revenue from the turnover tax shall accrue to the individual Laender on a per capita basis; a federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat may provide for supplementary shares not exceeding one quarter of a Land share to be granted to Laender whose per capita revenue from Land taxes and from the income and corporation taxes is below the average of all the Laender combined.
(2) Such statute shall ensure a reasonable equalization between financially strong and financially weak Laender, due account being taken of the financial capacity and financial requirements of communes or associations of communes. Such statute shall specify the conditions governing equalization claims of Laender entitled to equalization payments and equalization liabilities of Laender owing equalization payments as well as the criteria for determining the amounts of equalization payments. Such statute may also provide for grants to be made by the Federation from federal funds to financially weak Laender in order to complement the coverage of their general financial requirements (supplementary grants).
As amended 12 May 1969
(1) Customs, fiscal monopolies, the excise taxes subject to federal legislation, including the import turnover tax, and charge s imposed within the framework of the European Communities shall be administered by federal revenue authorities. The organization of these authorities shall be regulated by Federal law. The heads of the authorities at intermediate level shall be appointed after consultation of the Land governments.
(2) All other taxes shall be administered by Land revenue authorities. The organization of these authorities and the uniform training of their civil servants may be regulated by a federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat. The heads of authorities at the intermediate level shall be appointed in agreement with the Federal Government.
(3) To the extent that taxes accruing wholly or in part to the Federation are administered by Land revenue authorities, those authorities shall act as agents of the Federation. Paragraphs (3) and (4) of Article 85 shall apply, the Federal Minister of Finance, however, being substituted for the Federal Government.
(4) In respect of the administration of taxes, a federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat may provide for collaboration between federal and Land revenue authorities, or in the case of taxes under paragraph (1) of this Article for their administration by Land revenue authorities, or i the case of other taxes for their administration by federal revenue authorities, where and to the extend that the execution of revenue statutes is substantially improved or facilitated thereby. As regards taxes the revenue from which accrues exclusively to communes or associations of communes, their administration may wholly or in part be transferred by the Laender from the appropriate Land revenue authorities to communes or associations of communes.
(5) The procedure to be applied by federal revenue authorities shall be laid down by federal legislation. The procedure to be applied by Land revenue authorities or, as envisaged in the second sentence of paragraph 4 of this Article, by communes or associations of communes may be laid down by federal statute requiring the consent of the Bundesrat.
(6) The jurisdiction of revenue courts shall be uniformly regulated by federal legislation.
(7) The Federal Government may issue appropriate general administrative rules which, to the extent that administration is entrusted to Land revenue authorities or communes or associations of communes, shall require the consent of the Bundesrat.
As amended by federal statute of 8 June 1967
(1) The Federation and the Laender shall be autonomous and independent of each other in their budget management. (2) The Federation and the Laender shall have due regard in their budget management to the requirements of overall economic equilibrium. (3) Through federal legislation requiring the consent of the Bundesrat, principles applicable to both the Federation and the Laender may be established governing budgetary law, responsiveness of budget management to economic trends, and financial planning to cover several years ahead. (As amended by federal statute of 12 May 1969)
(4) With a view to averting disturbances of the overall economic equilibrium, federal legislation requiring the consent of the Bundesrat may be enacted providing for:
Authorizations to issue the relevant ordinances may be conferred o Federal Government only. Such ordinances shall require the consent the Bundesrat. They shall be repealed insofar as the Bundestag may demand; details shall be regulated by federal legislation.
(1) All revenues and expenditures of th e Federation shall be included in the budget; in respect of federal enterprises and special assets, allocations thereto or remittances therefrom need be included. The budget shall be balanced as regards revenue and expenditure.
(2) The budget shall be laid down in a statute covering one year or several fiscal years separately before the beginning of the first of those fiscal years. Provision may be made for parts of the budget to apply to periods of different duration, but divided into fiscal years.
(3) Bills within the meaning of the first sentence of paragraph (2) of this Article as well as bills to amend the budget statute and the budget be submitted simultaneously to the Bundesrat and to the Bundestag; the Bundesrat shall be entitled to state its position on such bills within weeks or, in the case of amending bills, within three weeks.
(4) The budget statute may contain only such provisions as apply to revenues and expenditures of the Federation and to the period for which the budget statute is being enacted. The budget statute may stipulate these provisions shall cease to apply only upon the promulgation of the next budget statute or, in the event of an authorization pursuant to Article 115, at a later date. (As amended by federal statute of 12 May 1969)
(1) If, by the end of a fiscal year, the budget for the following year has not been established by a law, the Federal Government may, until such law comes into force, make all payments which are necessary: (a) to maintain institutions existing by law and to carry out measures authorized by law; (b) to meet legal obligations of the Federation; (c) to continue building projects, procurements and other services or to continue the grant of subsidies for these purposes, provided amounts have already been authorized in the budget of a previous year.
(2) Insofar as revenues provided by special legislation and derived from taxes, levies, or other sources, or the working capital reserves, do not cover the expenditures set forth in paragraph 1, the Federal Government may borrow the funds necessary for the conduct of current operations to a maximum of one quarter of the total amount of the previous budget.
As amended 12 May 1969
Expenditures in excess of budgetary appropriations and extra budgetary expenditures shall require the consent of the Federal Minister of Finance. Such consent may be given only in the case of an unforeseen and compelling necessity. Details may be regulated by federal legislation.
As amended by federal statute of 12 May 1969
(1) Statutes increasing the budget expenditures proposed by the Federal Government or involving or likely in future to cause new expenditures shall require the consent of the Federal Government. This shall also apply to statutes involving or likely in future to cause decreases in revenue. The Federal Government may demand that the Bundestag postpone vote on such bills. In this case the Federal Government shall state its position to the Bundestag within six weeks.
(2) Within four weeks after the Bundestag has adopted such a bill, Federal Government may demand that it votes on that bill again.
(3) Where the bill has become a statute pursuant to Article 78, the Fed, Government may withhold its consent only within six weeks and only after having initiated the procedure provided for in the third and fourth sentences of paragraph (I) or in paragraph (2) of the present Article. Upon the expiry of this period such consent shall be deemed to have been given.
(1) The Federal Minister of Finance shall, on behalf of the Federal Government, submit annually to the Bundestag and to the Bundesrat their approval an account, covering the preced ing fiscal year, of revenues and expenditures as well as of property and debt.
(2) The Federal Audit Office, the members of which shall enjoy judicial independence, shall audit the account and examine the management the budget and the conduct of business as to economy and correctness. The Federal Audit Office shall submit an annual report directly to Federal Government as well as to the Bundestag and to the Bundesrat In all other respects the powers of the Federal Audit Office shall regulated by federal legislation.
As amended by federal statute of 12 May 1969
(1) The borrowing of funds and the assumption of pledges, guarantee or other commitments, as a result of which expenditure may be incurred in future fiscal years, shall require federal legislative authorization indicating, or permitting computation of, the maximum amount involved. Revenue obtained by borrowing shall not exceed the total expenditures for investments provided for in the budget; exceptions shall be permissible only to avert a disturbance of the overall economic equilibrium. Details shall be regulated by federal legislation.
(2) In respect of special assets of the Federation, exceptions to the provisions of paragraph (1) of this Article may be authorized by federal legislation.
Entire section Xa inserted by federal statute of ~4 June 1968
(1) The determination that federal territory is being attacked by armed force or that such an attack is directly imminent (state of Defense) shall be made by the Bundestag with the consent of the Bundesrat. Such determination shall be made at the request of the Federal Government and shall require a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which shall include at least the majority of the members of the Bundestag.
(2) Where the situation imperatively calls for immediate action and where insurmountable obstacles prevent the timely assembly of the Bundestag, or where there is no quorum in the Bundestag, the Joint Committee shall make this determination with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which shall include at least the majority of its members.
(3) The determination shall be promulgated in the Federal Law Gazette by the Federal President pursuant to Article 82. Where this cannot done in time, the promulgation shall be effected in another manner; it shall subsequently be printed in the Federal Law Gazette as soon as circumstances permit.
(4) Where the federal territory is being attacked by armed force and where the competent bodies of the Federation are not in a position at once to make the determination provided for in the first sentence of paragraph ( I ) of this Article, such determination shall be deemed to have been made and promulgated at the time the attack began. The Federal President shall announce such time as soon as circumstances permit.
(5) Where the determination of the existence of a state of Defense has been promulgated and where the federal territory is being attacked by armed force, the Federal President may, with the consent of the Bundestag, issue declarations under international law regarding the existence of such state of Defense. Where the conditions mentioned in paragraph (2) of this Article apply, the Joint Committee shall act in substitution for the Bundestag.
Upon the promulgation of a state of Defense, the power of command over the Armed Forces shall pass to the Federal Chancellor.
(1) The Federation shall have the right to legislate concurrently in respect of a state of Defense even on matters within the legislative powers of the Laender. Such statutes shall require the consent of the Bundesrat.
(2) Federal legislation to be applicable upon the occurre nce of a state of Defense to the extent required by conditions obtaining while such state of Defense exists may make: 1. preliminary provision for compensation to be made in the event of property being taken, in derogation of the second sentence of paragraph (3) of Article 14; 2. provision for a time-limit other than that referred to in the third sentence of paragraph (2) and the first sentence of paragraph (3) of Article 104 in respect of deprivations of liberty, but not exceeding four days at the most, in a case where no judge has been able to act within the time- limit applying in normal times.
(3) Federal legislation to be applicable upon the occurrence of a state of Defense to the extent required for averting an existing or directly imminent attack may, subject to the consent of the Bundesrat, regulate the administration and the financial system of the Federation and the Laender in derogation of Sections Vlll, VIIIa and X, provided that the viability of the Laender, communes and associations of communes is safeguarded, particularly in financial matters (As amended by federal statute of 12 May 1969).
(4) Federal statutes enacted pursuant to paragraph (1) or subparagraph 1 of paragraph (2) of this Article may, for the purpose of preparing for their enforcement, be applied even prior to the occurrence of a state of Defense.
(1) While a state of Defense exists, the provisions of paragraphs (2) and (3) of this Article shall apply in respect of federal legislation, in derogation of the provisions of paragraph (2) of Article 76, the second sentence of paragraph (1) and paragraph (2) to (4) of Article 77, Article 78, and paragraph (1) of Article 82.
(2) Bills submitted as urgent by the Federal Government shall be forwarded to the Bundesrat at the same time as they are submitted to the Bundestag. The Bundestag and the Bundesrat shall debate such bills together without delay. Insofar as the consent of the Bundesrat is necessary, the majority of its votes shall be required for any such bill to become a statute. Details shall be regulated by rules of procedure adopted by the Bundestag and requiring the consent of the Bundesrat.
(3) The second sentence of paragraph (3) of Article 115a shall apply mutatis mutandis in respect of the promulgation of such statutes.
(1) Where, in a state of Defense, the Joint Committee determines with a two-thirds majority of the votes cast, which shall include at least the majority of its members, that insurmountable obstacles prevent the timely assembly of the Bundestag or that there is no quorum in the Bundestag, the Joint Committee shall have the status of both the Bundestag and the Bundesrat and shall exercise their rights as one body.
(2) The Joint Committee may not enact any statute to amend this Basic Law or to deprive it of effect or application either in whole or in part. The Joint Committee shall not be authorized to enact statutes pursuant to paragraph (1) of Article 24 or to Article 29.
(1) In a state of Defense, the Federal Government may, to the extent necessitated by circumstances: 1. use the Federal Border Guard throughout the federal territory; 2. issue instructions not only to federal administrative authorities but also to Land governments and, where it deems the matter urgent, to Land authorities, and may delegate this power to members of Land governments to be designated by it.
(2) The Bundestag, the Bundesrat and the Joint Committee shall be informed without delay of the measures taken in accordance with paragraph (1) of this Article.
The constitutional status and the performance of the constitutional functions of the Federal Constitutional Court and its judges shall not be impaired. The Federal Constitutiona l Court Act may not be amended by a statute enacted by the Joint Committee except insofar as such amendment is required. also in the opinion of the Federal Constitutional Court, to maintain the capability of the Court to function. Pending the enactment of such a statute, the Federal Constitutional Court may take such measures as are necessary to maintain the capability of the Court to carry out its work. Any decisions by the Federal Constitutional Court in pursuance of the second and third sentences of this Article shall require a two-thirds majority of the judges present.
(1) Any legislative terms of the Bundestag or of Land parliaments due to expire while a state of Defense exists shall end six months after the termination of such state of Defense. A term of office of the Federal President due to expire while a state of Defense exists, and the exercise of his functions by the President of the Bundesrat in case of the premature vacancy of the Federal President s office. shall end nine months after the termination of such state of Defense. The term of office of a member of the Federal Constitutional Court due to expire while a state of Defense exists shall end six months after the termination of such state of Defense.
(2) Should the necessity arise for the Joint Committee to elect a Federal Chancellor, the Committee shall do so with the majorit