Michael Kadish
Comparative Politics
Dr. Phares.
Germany, p.243-53
I. The Bundestag
A. "The Federal Diet"
B. Considered to be the "basic law"
C. Designed to be lead
1. Chancellor
2. Cabinet
D. Very difficult to give vote of no confidence, used to elect leader.
II. Bundesrat
A. Based on population.
1. Divided by the 16 L?nder for 68 members
a. X=3 reps
b. 2 mil=4
c. 6 mil=5
d. 7 mil=6
2. Not always fair.
B. Absolute veto power of anything involving the l?nder
III.Law making
A. Most bills introduced by Government, rather than the Bundesrat or Bundestag.
B. Bundesrat initiated
1. First go to government
2. Then to Bundestag
3. Scrutiny is the issue, rather than scrutiny.
C. Govt. initiated
1. Bundesrat
2. Bundestag
3. See above
D. Goes to be signed
1. President
2. Chancellor
3. If not, must begin Mediation committee.
a. Sort of like congress.
b. Works on a compromise
c. Bill must then be double signed one week after committee finishes, or it is "pocket vetoed"
IV. Vetoes
A. Absolute veto for Bundestat in regards to domestic matters.
B. Suspensory veto for matters not related to the l?nder.
1. Bundestag votes, and if their vote is a larger reciprocal, then veto is overridden
2. Must have more than half the Bundestag present
3. Bill then goes to be signed.
V. Elections
A. Page 247
B. Two votes per person
1. Vote for direct
2. Vote for party
C. Tie goes to the counter.
D. Explaining how the votes work, and how more than 656 seats are allowed (672 in 1990)
E. Around 80% turnout
F. FIVE percent clause
1. Explanation
2. Three constituency seats
3. National "minority"
G. Constant reminders
H. E + W
VI. Parties
A. Any party allowed, but most stopped with 5%.
B. Green Example
C. Normal Coalititions.
D. CDU-CSU
E. E+W
VII. Differences
A. Automatic veto power of the Bundesrat
B. "Positive vote of no confidence"
C. Two votes
D. Five Percent
E. Varying powers of upper house.
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