German politics can seem like a maze of long words and complex structures. But if you're learning German or just curious about how the country runs, knowing some basic political vocabulary helps. Here's a no-nonsense guide to the essential terms.
The Big Institutions
Bundestag
/ˈbʊndəsˌtaːk/“Federal Diet”
Germany's main parliament. The Bundestag passes laws, elects the chancellor, and generally runs the show. Think of it like the UK's House of Commons or the US House of Representatives.
Bundesrat
/ˈbʊndəsˌʁaːt/“Federal Council”
Represents Germany's 16 states at the federal level. It has a say in laws affecting state powers. Less powerful than the Bundestag, but can block some legislation.
Bundeskanzler(in)
/ˈbʊndəsˌkant͡slɐ/“Federal Chancellor”
The head of government. Currently Olaf Scholz (SPD). Roughly equivalent to a prime minister.
Bundespräsident(in)
/ˈbʊndəsˌpʁɛziˌdɛnt/“Federal President”
Mostly ceremonial head of state. Currently Frank-Walter Steinmeier. Signs laws and does the ribbon-cutting.
Political Parties (The Big Ones)
- CDU/CSU - Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and its Bavarian sister party, the Christian Social Union (CSU). Centre-right, traditionally Germany's dominant force. Merkel's old party.
- SPD - Social Democratic Party. Centre-left, focuses on workers' rights and social welfare. Currently leading the government coalition.
- Grüne - The Greens. Environmentalists turned mainstream party. Part of the current coalition.
- FDP - Free Democratic Party. Pro-business, libertarian-ish. Kingmakers in many coalitions.
- AfD - Alternative for Germany. Far-right, anti-immigration. Controversial and growing in the east.
- Die Linke - The Left. Democratic socialists, successor party to East Germany's communists. Losing ground recently.
Election Terms
Wahl
/vaːl/“Election”
General term for any election. Bundestag elections happen every four years.
Erststimme
/ˈeːɐ̯stˌʃtɪmə/“First Vote”
Vote for a local constituency MP (direct mandate).
Zweitstimme
/ˈtsvaɪ̯tˌʃtɪmə/“Second Vote”
More important vote - determines party proportions in the Bundestag.
Überhangmandate
/ˈyːbɐhaŋmanˌdaːtə/“Overhang seats”
Extra seats added to parliament if a party wins more direct mandates than their second vote share would allow. Makes the Bundestag huge.
Useful Political Vocabulary
- Koalition - Coalition. Germany usually has coalition governments (e.g., SPD + Greens + FDP).
- Opposition - Opposition parties not in government.
- Gesetzentwurf - Draft law. Starts in the Bundestag or Bundesrat.
- Verfassung - Constitution. Germany's is called the Grundgesetz (Basic Law).
- Bürgermeister(in) - Mayor. Local politics is big in Germany.
- Steuern - Taxes. Always a hot topic.
Pro tip: Watching German news like Tagesschau can help reinforce these terms. The language is usually clear, and you'll hear these words constantly.
Want more German vocab? Check out our guides on German for job seekers or public transport phrases.
