Germany’s Political System, Research Paper Example

Introduction

Existing within an area of 357,021 square kilometers, Germany serves as a host to at least an 80.3 million human population (Kesselman, et al, 2013). Relatively, to make sure that the resources and government provisions presented to the public are distributed properly, the country relies on a parliamentary system of governance. Currently, Germany is noted to have 16 separate states and is recognized as the most populous country that is a member of the European Union.

Because of its huge population, Germany is considered as one of the most influential regions in Europe especially when it comes to economy and politics. Being a historical leader in the continent, Germany holds a distinct position when it comes to coming up with particular political decisions even when under the control of the overall governance of the European royalty. Germany is also noted for ranking high in several industries hence imposing the fact that it has actually increased the level of its standard of living thus providing distinct satisfaction to its people. How does the administration of Germany manage to attain such massive accomplishments as a distinct mark of their nation? In the discussion that follows, a presentation on the overall system of Germany’s government system shall be shown in relation to all the political actors involved in it. Relatively, this discussion shall also imply on how the nation specifically withstands their position in the European Union thus upholding their capacity to provide one of the strongest foundations to the said continental agreement among the allies of the European region.

Brief Background History

When the name Germany comes into mind, it could be understood that the world mostly remembers about Hitler, the Holocaust and the Nazi Assault. Relatively, this historical mark has caused individuals from all around the globe to believe that people in the region are all but sensitive. Literary works often define Germans as strict, directive and specifically commanding. Nevertheless, while some of such attitudinal characteristics are real, the country and its people now enjoy specific source of satisfaction that specifically spurs out from the effective form of administration that the government uses to direct the nation accordingly.

After the First World War, the imperialist rule in the country was replaced by a parliamentary system in 1918. This system caused the partition of some of its territory in the Treaty of Versailles. During this time, even though Germany was notably a pioneer in some fields of development, the economic situation of the country was rather detrimental (Philpott, 2000). The emergence of the Great Depression has even made the situations worse. Nevertheless, it was because of the occurrence of such historical event that the birth of the Third Reich has become possible in 1933 (Philpott, 2000).

The division of the German territory into two sections, the eastern and western bloc has caused several chaotic situations in the past. The infamous Berlin Wall symbolizes the said divide. Nevertheless, such social divide was ended in 1990 and the Berlin Wall was destroyed. This was the beginning of a unified Germany. During the reunification of the nation, the country became a member of the European Union. Currently considered as the greatest powers in Europe and an influential nation in other international organizations like NATO and UN, Germany retains a name that brings about a sense of query on how well the administration manages the country. Knowing the system behind such success could actually provide the needed answer to such inquiry.

The Current Working System

Noted as a federal parliamentary republic, Germany’s government is divided into two specific divisions. One is the Bundestag which is the overall parliament of Germany and the other is the Bundesrat which is the unison of the different representatives from the different states in the country. This system works as a hierarchical positioning of administrators thus making it easier for the local governments to have a voice towards the decisions that the national government is in need of contemplating with.

The year 1949 opened for the possibility of opening the doors of the German government to a multi-party system. This means that the existence of more than one parties could be accepted as both political ‘teams’ work towards the betterment of the nation. At present, there are two particular parties that are considered in authority in the German parliament; one is that of the Christian Democratic Union and the other is the Social Democratic Party of Germany.

When it comes to the judiciary system, it is made sure that the operation would be free from any particular subjective decisions as it is separated from both the legislative and the executive systems used to govern the nation. This operation will make it easier for the system to guard the government against corrupt officials and other particular political anomalies as it is separated from specific connections with either the legislative or the executive operations of the government. Relatively, perhaps because of the mark that history has on the country’s name and reputation, the current constitution of Germany [notably addressed in the Grundgesetz or the basic law] is more focused on providing attention to clauses of individual liberty, the distinctive value of human rights and the impacting factor that the civil rights have on the overall makeup of the legal system of the nation.

For seventeen years, the Christian Liberal Coalition ruled the nation. During this time, the governance system is specifically focused on religious roots, how it is recognized and applied in the modern society. So far, although there were some conflicts, the traditional approach to governance that the party used was relatively able to bring in the necessary changes as well as the retaining factors that kept Germany and its people under control. However, perhaps due to the changing tides of time and the suggestive reform being seen by the nation in neighboring countries and continents across the globe, the people’s desire for change became evident. This made it possible for the Social Democrats (SPD) alongside the Greets to win the 1998 elections (Bowman, et al, 2005).

The supposed beginning of change was not that easy to establish. In fact, as the SPD party took over, the administration took particularly negative reactions from the public during its first years of remaining in office. This was specifically caused by the weak stance of the country’s economy at the time. Policy disputes between the different members of the parliament began to start particular problems to the new government. The commotion between the left and the right wing of the administration caused several resignations among some of the officials at the time. Although this particular coalition of two different parties was rather considered a failure, the next generation of officials did not lose hope in brining in the necessary changes that Germany needs.

In 2005, the Christian Democrats regained their seat. The seat was secured until the year 2009 under Chancellor Angela Merkel’s leading. From this point, the new alliance between SPD and WASG or he Electoral Alternative for Labor and Social Justice came to life (Lehmann, et al, 2013). From this point of electoral development, the CDU-CSU coalition was formed thus determining the position of the Christians and socialists in the field of German politics which left the political leftists to lose their authority in the said governing operation (Bowman, et al, 2005).

The political scenes in Germany continued to change during the 2009 elections. While Merkel was reelected as Chancellor, other members of the parliamentary seat have been changed accordingly. The coalitions formed within the parliamentary system opened the doors towards larger and more involved political activities from smaller sectors in the community especially dedicated to forwarding their position regarding environmental issues. Currently, the coalition of parties in the country allows it to entertain voices of social change and development following the concerns of the people. This system allows for a more democratic process than a centrally defined direction by the federal operations itself. Relatively, this form of operation allows for a larger scope of development that is accompanied by the response and involvement of the public.

As noted in this section of the discussion, it could not be denied that the German political system specifically underwent particular changes and adjustments before it came into a conclusive system that would allow for a better course of social development. To know more how the system operates, the diagram herein shall provide a more visually definitive description of the matter:

Source of image: http://bsaagweb.de/political-system-germany/

Based from the description of the image presented above, it could be realized how the system of governance is divided into particular sections allowing it to give specific attention to particular responsibilities that each sector has to respond to. The separation of the state and the local government system allows for a more directive process of governance thus allowing the smaller states gain proper command on what their people need; in the same manner, having the smaller sections of government attend to the more specific needs of the people allows the federal government to attend to matters of national concern. Financing developmental projects also come in at an easier pace following this particular system. On the other end, making sure that the legislative, executive and the judiciary systems of the government are lead by different members of the operation allows for a more unbiased process of defining the needs of the nation under the said sectors of governance.

Relation with the European Union

Germany’s involvement with the European Union specifically notes the country’s role in empowering the overall economic system of the continent. Maintaining close political and economic relations with France, Germany retains a stable position in the aspect of providing proper financial resource to the overall EU organization. Besides economic stability, Germany entails to establish stronger and unified system of European political defense system that would improve social security systems followed by the countries enjoined in the said organization. Along with this aim is the establishment of the Federal Republic of Germany that is specifically formulated under the governance of the Federal Ministry of Economic Cooperation and Development. This insists on the power that EU has over the commercial and international trade operations of Germany thus making it possible for the country to provide as much financial submissions to EU as needed. With the current standing of the country in the face of international trade, it is undoubtedly agreeable that it is able to respond to what it is expected to give out for the organization and its national reserves as well.

Conclusion

Germany, one of the strongest countries in Europe, stands to be among the most powerful entities in the region providing economic and political stability in the continent. Relatively, its current system of governance allows it to extend its resources, become more effective in defining its people’s capacity to empower the national economy according to the needs of the nation and the expectations of their international alliances. Most likely, it is because of the effective system of governance that it has become possible for the nation to take stable positions in making a distinctive impact on the overall outcome of its development and that of its neighboring nations as well. Learning from its history and the other aspects of its nation’s past allowed the German system of administration to incur adjustments that provide a great source of competence allowing it to provide the most satisfying ways of living to its people.

The constitutional arrangements that Germany is highly dependent upon along with the alliance that it has with the European Union allows it to become more directive in the path that it hopes to take especially when it comes to developmental procedures. These connections and systems of operation in governing its people and it resources allow the country to become more involved in directing the course of advancement that its continent takes. Other developed countries like Germany may not be able to experience the same aspect of satisfaction that the country is able to imply among its people, mainly because they fail to see the need to segregate the administrational system for the officials to become more efficient in giving attention to the closest and most important concerns of the people and responding to such matters under the alignment of the constitution’s direction for progress.

References

Philpott, Daniel (January 2000). “The Religious Roots of Modern International Relations”. World Politics 52 (2): 206–245.

Bowman, Alan K.; Garnsey, Peter; Cameron, Averil (2005). The crisis of empire, A.D. 193–337. The Cambridge Ancient History 12. Cambridge University Press. p. 442.

Kesselman, M, Joel, K, & William A. J. (2013). Introduction to Comparative Politics: Political Challenges and Changing Agendas. (6th Ed.) Boston: Wadsworth.

Lehmann P., Merz N., Regel S., Werner A. (September 13, 2013). And They Do differ! An analysis of the German Parties’ election programs 2013. Social Science Research Center Berlin. http://democracy.blog.wzb.eu/2013/09/17/and-they-do-differ-an-analysis-of-the-german-parties-election-programs-2013/. (Retrieved on October 7, 2013)

Political System of Germany. http://bsaagweb.de/political-system-germany/. (Retrieved on October 7, 2013)

General Description of Germany’s Constitutional System. http://commin.org/en/bsr-countries/germany/1.-constitutional-system/1.1-general-description-of-the-constitutional-system.html. (Retrieved on October 7, 2013)