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Parliament name - More photos  >>> Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Bundesrat / Federal Council Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Deutscher Bundestag / German Bundestag Affiliation to the IPU Affiliation date(s) LEADERSHIP President Michael Müller (M)  Notes 1 Nov. 2017 - 31 Oct. 2018 Secretary General Ute Rettler (F)  Notes 1 April 2015 - COMPOSITION Members (statutory / current number) 69 / 69 PERCENTAGE OF WOMEN More statistics  >>> Women (current number) 27 (39.13%) Mode of designation appointed 69 Notes Appointed by local länder governments. Term  The Bundesrat does not have a fixed term. The members' terms depend on that of the government of the Land (State) they represent (16 Länder) Last renewal dates not applicable (View details) CONTACT INFORMATION Address Bundesrat Leipziger Straße 3-4 D - 10117 Berlin (Export mailing lists) Phone (49) 30 18 91 00 0 Fax (49) 30 18 91 00 400 E-mail Bundesrat@bundesrat.de Website http://www.bundesrat.de

Parliament name - Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Bundesrat / Federal Council Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Deutscher Bundestag / German Bundestag LEGAL FRAMEWORK Electoral law 1 January 1900 Last amendment: 11/10/1996 Mode of designation appointed 69 Constituencies 16 multi-member (3 to 6 seats) constituencies corresponding to the Länder. Voting system : Individual elections in the 16 Länder (States) determine the composition of each Land assembly (Landtag). Each Landtag elects a Land gouvernment which then sends its members as delegates to the Bundesrat Voter requirements (not applicable) CANDIDATES Eligibility - age: 18 years - German citizenship for at least one year - members of the respective Land government Incompatibilities Membership in the Bundestag. Candidacy requirements (not applicable)

Parliament name - Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Bundesrat / Federal Council Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Deutscher Bundestag / German Bundestag BACKGROUND Dates of election / renewal (from/to) not applicable Timing and scope of renewal (Not applicable) (Not applicable) STATISTICS Voter turnout Distribution of votes Distribution of seats Distribution of seats according to sex Men Women Percent of women 50 19 27.54% Distribution of seats according to age Distribution of seats according to profession Comments Source: IPU Group (14.12.2011, 01.01.2015, 01.01.2017)

Parliament name - Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Bundesrat / Federal Council Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Deutscher Bundestag / German Bundestag APPOINTMENT AND TERM OF OFFICE Title President of the Federal Council Term - duration: 1 year (from 1 November to 31 October) - reasons for interruption of the term of office: end of membership of the Land Government Appointment - elected by the Federal Assembly each year Eligibility - the Ministers-Presidents of each Land are successively elected Voting system - the Minister-President of each Land is successively elected President of the Bundesrat in an order determined by the number of inhabitants in each Land. The first President is the Minister-President of the most populated Land - each of the 16 Länder therefore has access to the Presidency once every 16 years Procedures / results - the former President presides over the Federal Council during the voting - the former President supervises the voting - the former President announces the results without any delay - the result cannot be challenged STATUS Status - ranks second after the Federal President in his capacity of Deputy President of the Republic - the President of the Bundestag presides over joint meetings of both Houses (for the swearing-in of the Federal President) - represents the Bundesrat in relations with public authorities and in international bodies. Can be represented by his/her Vice-Presidents or other Members of the Chamber. - in the absence of the President, one of the three Vice-Presidents can assume his/her role and functions Board - Präsidium - composed of the President and three Vice-Presidents - assisted and advised by a Permanent Consultative Council (Ständiger Beirat) composed of the 16 plenipotentiaries of the Länder. - is responsible for establishing the budget draft Material facilities - official expense allowance (remuneration for representational duties) allowance of 1,023 euros per month - services of the Secretariat of the Presidency - official car - bodyguards provided by each state (Bundesland) - free use of the helicopters of the Federal Boarder Guard Service (Bundesgrenzschutz) and the planes of the Air Force (Luftwaffe) FUNCTIONS Organization of parliamentary business - convenes sessions - establishes and modifies the agenda - organizes the debates and sets speaking time - examines the admissibility of bills and amendments - refers texts to a committee for study Chairing of public sittings - opens, adjourns and closes sittings - ensures respect for provisions of the Constitution and Standing Orders - makes announcements concerning the Bundesrat - takes disciplinary measures in the event of disturbance, and lifts such measures with the assistance of the Secretary General - establishes the list of speakers, gives and withdraws permission to speak - establishes the order in which amendments are taken up and selects which amendments are to be debated. The order can be modified by the Bundesrat - calls for a vote, decides how it is to be carried out, verifies the voting procedure and cancels a vote in the event of irregularities - checks the quorum - authenticates the adopted texts and the records of debates - interprets the rules or other regulations governing the life of the Bundesrat - has discretionary power to give the floor outside the agenda and thus organizes impromptu debates Special powers - assigns the Secretary General of the Bundesrat with the agreement of the Bundesrat - is responsible for relations with foreign Parliaments, with the assistance of the members of the Präsidium, the Members of the Chamber, the Permanent Consultative Council and the Secretariat - is responsible for security and, in this capacity, can call in the police in the event of disturbance in the Chamber with the assistance of the Secretary General Speaking and voting rights, other functions - takes the floor in legislative debates - proposes bills or amendments in his capacity of Representative of his/her Land

Parliament name - Structure of parliament Bicameral Chamber name (generic / translated) Bundesrat / Federal Council Related chamber (for bicameral parliaments) Deutscher Bundestag / German Bundestag NATURE Nature of the mandate · Linked representation - imperative mandate (see Art. 51 of the Basic Law of 23 May 1949, as amended up to and including 03.11.1995) Start of the mandate · When the Member is nominated by the respective Land (State) cabinet (see also Art. 51 of the Basic Law) Validation of mandates · No validation End of the mandate · On the day when the Land cabinet so decides or when the Member ceases to be a Member of the Land cabinet (see also Art. 51 of the Basic Law) Can MPs resign? Yes · Yes, of their own free will · Procedure · Authority competent to accept the resignation: the resignation does not have to be accepted Can MPs lose their mandate ? Yes (a) Revocation before expiry of mandate by the Land cabinet: grounds for revocation are not limited. The procedure is regulated by Land constitutional law. (b) Loss of mandate by judicial decision: when a person, by decision of a criminal court, looses his capacity to execute a public office, he ceases to be a Member of the Bundesrat. STATUS OF MEMBERS Rank in hierarchy · Within Parliament: 1. The President 2. The three Vice-Presidents 3. The Presidents of committees 4. The other Members of the Bundesrat Indemnities, facilities and services - Diplomatic passport - No salary - No special pension scheme - Other indemnities and facilities: (a) One office per state (Bundesland) at the headquarters of the Bundesrat (b) Travel and transport: free rail pass for travelling inside the country Obligation to declare personal assets No Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary non-accountability · The concept does not apply to Members of the Bundesrat. Parliamentary immunity - parliamentary inviolability · The concept does not apply to Members of the Bundesrat. EXERCISE OF THE MANDATE Training · There is a training/initiation process on parliamentary practices and procedures for MPs. · It is provided by the Member's respective department within the government of the Land. · Handbooks of parliamentary procedure: - Handbuch des Bundesrates (published once a year) Participation in the work of the Parliament · It is not compulsory for MPs to be present at plenary sittings or committee meetings. Discipline · There are no rules governing discipline for Members of the Bundesrat. Code (rules) of conduct · There is no code of conduct for Members of the Bundesrat. Relations between MPs and pressure group · There are no legal provisions in this field for Members of the Bundesrat.

This page was last updated on 1 November 2017
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