Affiliation:
1. Government and Policy Research, Martin-Luther-University, Halle-Wittenberg
2. Political Science, Martin-Luther-University Halle-Wittenberg
Abstract
AbstractThe Bundestag is the only political institution in the Federal Republic of Germany (FRG) which is directly elected. It stands at the centre of the constitutional design of the political system. To fully grasp its status, it is necessary to analyse the basic characteristics of a parliamentary (party) democracy in Germany. Underlying all political practice is the logic of a ‘new dualism’ between the governing majority on the one hand and the parliamentary opposition on the other. This influences how the involved actors contribute in different ways to the key functions of parliament: election, legislation, control, and communication—all of which are aimed at achieving representation and consequently legitimacy. For a complete understanding, both publicly visible and invisible interactions and influences between parliament and the executive as well as the political parties need to be considered. Such a perspective disproves many current allegations of parliamentary decline and shows that the Bundestag is a working parliament under communicative pressure.
Reference38 articles.
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