Question

What was the German Parliament called?

Answer 1

The German Federal Parliament is known as Bundestag. Bundestag is the legislative body of Germany.

Bundestag

• German citizens over the age of 18, elect the members of Bundestag.
• The Bundestag is elected for a term of 4 years.
• At the Federal Level, the Bundestag is the only body which is directly elected by German people.
• Bundestag is the successor of Reichstag.
• The Bundestag was established in 1949.
• The Bundestag can be compared to Britain and the US which have the House of Commons and House of Representatives respectively.
• Accountability of the Bundestag is only to the people of Germany.
• In the Bundestag, legally, the minimum number of members is 598.
• However, in the current 19th Bundestag, there are 709 members, which is the highest number of members. This is due to equalisation of seats and system of overhang.
• Some of the functions of the Bundestag are setting the Federal Budget, electing the Executive.
• There are 5 Vice Presidents in the 19th Bundestag.
• The current President of the Bundestag since 2017 is Wolfgang Schäuble of the CDU.
• The Chancellor is elected by the Bundestag.
• The question hour conducted by the Bundestag is known as Fragestunde.

Reichstag (Nazi Germany)

• Bundestag was preceded by Reichstag (Nazi Germany).
• It was established in 1933.
• It was disbanded in 1945.
• It was the pseudo-Parliament of the Third Reich.