Homepage of the German Bundestag, the national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany

The German Bundestag is the national parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. Its seat is the Reichstag Building in Berlin. In the current electoral term, Parliament is composed of 733 Members. This is the 20th electoral term since the establishment of the Federal Republic in 1949.

In line with the principle of the division of powers, the Bundestag is the highest organ of the legislative in Germany. Alongside it stand the Federal Government, representing the executive, and the federal and Land courts, representing the judiciary.

The roof terrace and dome of the Reichstag Building can be visited by members of the public, and offer spectacular views of the parliamentary and government district and Berlin’s sights.

The number of seats a party has in the Bundestag depends on its results in the elections. The more votes a party wins in the Bundestag elections, the more seats it gets. Electors cast their second votes to choose a particular party, whilst using their first votes to choose a specific person.

The symbols of the German state include the federal flag and the national colours - black, red and gold. They also include the national anthem and the federal eagle. State memorial days and public holidays, capital cities, memorial sites, insignia, medals and seals are also important national symbols.

Deutscher Bundestag Parlamentsdokumentation Platz der Republik 1 11011 Berlin Tel.: +49(0)30 227-35111 Fax: +49(0)30 227-36107 Email: [email protected] Office building

Parliamentary calendar (© German Bundestag) The Calendar of the German Bundestag shows the sitting weeks and weeks when parliament is not sitting. The Council of Elders schedules the sitting weeks and notifies Members of the relevant dates.

Guided tour of the Reichstag Building (in German) We offer guided tours explaining the functions, working methods and composition of Parliament, as well as the history and architecture of the Reichstag Building.

This is why they are debated and adopted in Germany’s most important democratic forum: the German Bundestag. However, it is not just the Members of the German Bundestag who are able to initiate the bills that result in new acts of law.