Who Is in the Bundesrat? Germany's Second Chamber

The Bundesrat: Germany's Second Chamber

You probably know the Bundestag. But do you know the Bundesrat? Many people preparing for the German citizenship test (Einbürgerungstest) are unsure about this body. Who sits there? What does it do? And why does it matter for German politics? This article answers all these questions clearly.

What Is the Bundesrat?

The Bundesrat is one of Germany's constitutional organs (Verfassungsorgane). A constitutional organ is a body defined directly in Germany's Basic Law (Grundgesetz). You can find the Bundesrat in Article 50 GG: the states shall participate through the Bundesrat in federal legislation and administration.

The Bundesrat works alongside the Bundestag. Together, they form the legislative branch of the German state. The legislative branch is the part of government that creates federal laws.

For the citizenship test: Question 60 asks which branch the Bundestag and Bundesrat belong to. The answer is the legislature (Legislative).

Who Sits in the Bundesrat?

Here is the most important fact for your test. The Bundesrat consists of members of the state governments (Mitglieder der Landesregierungen). These are state premiers (Ministerpräsidenten), state ministers, and other senior government officials from each of Germany's 16 states (Bundesländer).

They are not elected directly by German citizens. When you vote in a state election, you choose a state parliament (Landtag). That parliament then forms a state government. The state government sends its representatives to the Bundesrat.

For the citizenship test: Question 85 asks who forms the German Bundesrat. The answer is: the government representatives of the federal states (Regierungsvertreter der Bundesländer).

How Many Votes Does Each State Have?

Each state gets between 3 and 6 votes in the Bundesrat. The number depends on the state's population. This rule is set out in Article 51 GG.

Here are some examples:

State	Votes
Bremen, Saarland, Hamburg	3 votes
Berlin, Saxony, Rhineland-Palatinate	4 votes
Hesse, Brandenburg, Saxony-Anhalt	5 votes
Bavaria, Baden-Württemberg, North Rhine-Westphalia	6 votes

In total, the Bundesrat has 69 votes. One important rule: a state must vote as one bloc. Its representatives cannot split their votes between yes and no.

What Does the Bundesrat Do?

The Bundesrat's job is to represent the 16 states at the federal level. It has three main tasks:

1. Participating in federal legislation Many federal laws need the Bundesrat's approval. These laws are called Zustimmungsgesetze (consent laws). Without the Bundesrat's agreement, these laws cannot pass.

2. Raising objections For other laws, the Bundesrat can raise a formal objection (Einspruch). The Bundestag can override this. But it needs a special majority to do so.

3. Sending laws to the mediation committee If both chambers disagree seriously, they form a Vermittlungsausschuss (mediation committee). Representatives from both sides try to find a compromise there.

For the citizenship test: Question 90 asks how German states participate in federal legislation. The answer is: through the Bundesrat.

Why the Bundesrat Matters for Federal Politics

Here is where it gets interesting. Germany holds state elections throughout the year — usually several per year across the 16 states. Each state election can change which party controls that state government. When a government changes, the state's votes in the Bundesrat can shift to a different political camp.

Imagine this: the federal government has a strong majority in the Bundestag. But after several state elections, opposition parties now control many states. Those states send opposition ministers to the Bundesrat. The federal government can no longer easily pass laws that need Bundesrat approval. Every vote becomes a negotiation.

This is why federal politicians watch state elections very closely. Losing one large state can change the balance of power in the Bundesrat and block key parts of the government's agenda.

For the citizenship test: Question 91 asks what happens when a change of government in a state shifts the Bundesrat majority. The answer: governing becomes more difficult, if the majority in the Bundesrat changes.

Is the Bundesrat a Constitutional Organ?

Yes. Germany has five constitutional organs in total:

1. Bundestag — the federal parliament
2. Bundesrat — the states' chamber
3. Bundesregierung — the federal government
4. Bundespräsident — the federal president
5. Bundesverfassungsgericht — the Federal Constitutional Court

One body that is not a constitutional organ is the Bürgerversammlung (citizens' assembly). This body does not exist at the federal level in Germany.

For the citizenship test: Question 48 asks which organ does NOT belong to Germany's constitutional organs. The answer is: the Bürgerversammlung (citizens' assembly).

Key Facts to Remember

Here is a quick overview for your citizenship test:

• The Bundesrat is part of the legislative branch — together with the Bundestag
• Its members are government representatives from Germany's 16 states
• Each state has 3 to 6 votes, depending on its population (Art. 51 GG)
• A state always votes as a single bloc
• The Bundesrat participates in federal legislation and can block or delay laws
• State elections can change the majority in the Bundesrat and affect national policy
• The Bundesrat is a constitutional organ — the Bürgerversammlung is not

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This article is for information purposes only, not legal advice.