1. The President
   1. Features
      1. According to Roberts the president has more in common with a constitutional monarch than a politically active president; he has powers but no discretion; he does have influence and some have influenced past Chancellors to change their minds on particular nominations for ministerial positions
      2. Supposed to be a non partisan relationship
   2. Election
      1. 5 year term
      2. Voting is by secret ballot
      3. Elected by an electoral college consisting of all of the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of members chosen by the parliaments of the Lander (latter need not be members of Lander)
      4. To be elected must secure overall majority in either first or second round votes of the electoral college; thereafter a simple majority in the third round
      5. There is no office of Vice President
      6. President of the Bundesrat takes his place during incapacity or in the case of death, until new President is elected
   3. Powers
      1. Appoints ministers based on nomination of Chancellor; also accepts their resignations
      2. Dissolves Bundestag upon request of Chancellor; only the President can bring about such a premature dissolution
         1. This happens only if there is a vote of confidence resulting in no majority for a Chancellor
      3. Signs legislation; questions constitutionality
2. The Chancellor
   1. What is Chancellor Democracy
      1. Chancellor Democracy means that the Federal Chancellor is at the centre of the formal and the informal decision-making process and that he plays a central role both in domestic politics and foreign affairs.” (Schmidt: 30)
   2. History
      1. Some Chancellors have sought to exceed their remit by intruding upon areas of ministerial responsibility; Adenauer did so, Brandt pursued Ostpolitik, Merkel foreign policy
   3. Election
      1. 4 year term
      2. A member of the Bundestag
      3. Elected by the Bundestag
      4. Constructive secret vote of no confidence, under Article 67; votes that there is no confidence and appoints a successor
      5. Ministers
         1. Chancellors proposals for ministers are binding
         2. Appointed by the President
         3. Oath of office taken before the Bundestag
   4. Features
      1. Formal & Informal Powers
      2. Has power to define the 'guidelines of Federal policy' and declare them as binding (Article 65)
      3. Can involve himself in any policy issue
      4. Special interest traditionally shown to foreign policy and European integration
      5. The manner in which they control their own party is often seen as a key to success or failure
      6. Key
         1. central role of Chancellor in preparation of key decisions
         2. the prestige of the Chancellor
         3. close link between office of Chancellor and leadership of largest party
         4. involvement in foreign policy
         5. dualism of government and opposition camps
   5. Constraints
      1. Coalition partners; this can be exploited by the Chancellor maintaining coalition partners are making certain demands
      2. CDU Chancellors have to respect Bavarian CSU counterpart in ministerial appointments and policy development
      3. Bundesrat; some areas are the power of the Lander or else they share responsibility jointly; public expenditure, higher-education policies or environmental protection. The Bundesrat can veto legislation areas of competence of the Lander, federal-Lander relations, etc. When the Bundesrat votes on legislation (that which does not require its consent by a 2/3 majority) the Bundestag must override that majority with its own 2/3 vote.
      4. Constitutional Court
      5. autonomy of ministers
      6. independence of Bundesbank on monetary policy
      7. the control function of the Bundestag
      8. The 'Five Wise Men' appointed by the federal president, submit their annual financial report to which the government must respond
      9. External memberships: EU and NATO for example
      10. Military ombudsman who protects the rights of members of the armed forces
   6. The Chancellery
      1. A place of policy coordination and dispute resolution
      2. Monitors political programme
      3. Deals with emergencies
      4. Directs intelligence services
   7. Key Personnel
      1. Chief of the Chancellery
         1. Chancellor's aide
         2. One was once described as 'the man with the oil can' fulfilling many duties messenger, adviser, servant and executor.
      2. Minister for State
         1. Coordinates between Federal Govt, Lander, Bundestag and Bundesrat
      3. Press Secretary
      4. 'Radicals Decree'
         1. Any whose behaviour is not consistent with a commitment to democracy is excluded from the public (including civil) service since it was introduced in 1972. Affects federal and lander governments.
   8. Govt Transformation
      1. Power has become increasingly focused on the executive at the expense of parliament, political parties and Lander
      2. The Chancellors power has increased while collegiate decision-making and departmental autonomy have decreased.
      3. Europeanisation makes national players part of a European governance structure; it the executive who benefits
3. Policy Making
   1. The 'government declaration' (like Queen's speech) sets out the programme of agreed policies for the coalition. Some policies arise from external factors (EU) or emergencies. Policies may develop from single or multiple ministries; a committee may be used if it is the latter. The cabinet discusses and ratifies the policy before it is presented to the Bundestag or Bundesrat, assuming legislation is required. Consideration needs to be taken of whether it will pass the Bundesrat if it is controlled by the opposition. Constitutionality also needs to be considered. The objections of interest groups also need to be considered.
4. Govts
   1. Polls
      1. Show that a considerable number make up their minds on election day and that they do so based on the candidate for chancellor, rather than on policy issues
   2. Current
      1. President Christian Wulff
      2. Chancellor Angela Merkel
      3. Foreign Minister Guido Westerwelle
      4. Finance Minister Wolfgang Schauble
      5. President of Bundestag Norbert Lammert
      6. President of the Bundesrat Hannelore Kraft
      7. Cabinet; about 16 members
   3. Past
      1. Konrad Adenauer
      2. Willy Brandt, Ostpolitik & resignation because of Guillaume affair
   4. Institutions
      1. Constitutional Court - Karlsruhe
   5. Pre-unification
      1. GDR: East Germany
      2. Federal Republic: West Germany