Vice-Chancellor of Germany
Vice-Chancellor is called during the time of the German Empire and the Weimar Republic, the Deputy Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany or historically also the respective Vice Chancellor. The name itself is unofficial and not appear in any of the German constitutions. The Basic Law speaks of at least one alternate to the Chancellor appoints the deputy must be a Federal Minister.
The delegate is limited, the Vice-Chancellor may take in the absence of the Chancellor or the Chancellor, the head of the Cabinet meeting, but do not exercise authority and competence of the Chancellor, for example. The Deputy Chancellor does not automatically replaces him in the event of the death or incapacity Office of the Registrar; in this case is the Federal President reserves the right to ask one of the cabinet ministers, business leaders to lead the office. The German Vice-Chancellor is not comparable with the Vice President of the United States who is not a minister, but automatically takes up the official successor of a deceased or retired presidents.
Vice-Chancellor in the Empire
With the substitution law of 17 March 1878, the Chancellor was authorized the establishment of an alternate who will represent him in the event of an impediment or its related tasks to ask the Emperor. In addition to a general deputy, who was appointed for the entire scope of business of the Chancellor, were also recorded for individual office branches that are under one's own and immediate administration of the empire, the boards of the highest Reich authorities as Deputy Chancellor in the whole scope or their participation in individual parts business district will be appointed.
The meaning of the Act was primarily in the appreciation of the Secretaries of State. The rights of the Chancellor, however, remained intact, he could all official acts even during a delegate to make.
An Amendment Act of 28 October 1918, the deputy law was adapted to the new political realities. Among other things, the Vice-Chancellor was assured at all times heard in the Reichstag and painted representation for individual office branches.
In general, the general representation of the Chancellor was incumbent on the Secretary of the Office of the Interior, only Stolberg- Wernigerode, Helfferich and Payer made an exception here. At the same half of the vice-chancellor was also vice president of the Prussian State Ministry.
Vice-Chancellor of the Weimar Republic
In the Weimar Republic (1919-1933) the Vice Chancellor was usually the realm senses or the minister of justice. In the Weimar Constitution, he is not mentioned.
The last Vice-Chancellor, Franz von Papen, a former chancellor. In Hitler's cabinet he was otherwise mere minister without portfolio. About the powerlessness of a vice-chancellor was Papen, who wanted to use the popularity of Hitler for themselves, not really aware of; to tame or framing a Chancellor Hitler was not suitable. Papen's power base was in the end only the confidence of President Hindenburg.
Following the resignation Papen there was during the time of National Socialism from 1934 no Vice-Chancellor, however, as early as 1933, Rudolf Hess was appointed Deputy of the Fuehrer.
Vice-Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany
Right of representation
The Vice-Chancellor, officially called the Deputy Chancellor has, pursuant to Article 69 paragraph 1 of the Basic Law (GG) which is responsible for exercising the powers of the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany for his absence. He was recruited from among the Federal Minister and appointed by the Chancellor, by its precepts, he is bound. The power of attorney of the Vice Chancellor extends in principle to all tasks and rights of the Registrar. Controversial, however, whether he must also provide the confidence (as the Basic Law expressly speaks of the Chancellor ).
In the history of the Federal Republic of Germany Walter Scheel was the only Vice- Chancellor, who provisionally the Office of the Chancellor exercised (from 7 to 16 May 1974). Previously, Willy Brandt had resigned and had the Federal President Heinemann asked to be relieved of the continuation of his duties immediately and not to undertake pursuant to Article 69 paragraph 3 GG to continue in the business. The Scheels order by the President was obvious, but not necessarily: The resignation of the Chancellor during the legislative session itself is not provided or regulated by the Basic Law.
Vice-Chancellor was always the 1966-2011 Federal Foreign Minister ( with short breaks in 1982, 1992-1993, 2005-2007). This has the diplomatic advantage that the foreign minister was the highest ranking member at Foreign Ministers conferences as deputy head of the government in general. Since Germany came relatively late, due to the special situation of limited sovereignty and government division in numerous international organizations, this did the German representative in the rankings to catch up with the representatives of the founding states of the organization. A disadvantage of the connection is that the Foreign Minister is the one minister who is most likely on a trip abroad, when the Cabinet meets. In practice, however, must permit rarely represented a Chancellor.
Party affiliation
Being in a coalition government usually the second strongest faction of the Vice-Chancellor is ( the strongest is the Federal Chancellor ), this function is rarely occupied by a member of the Union or SPD. To this rule there have been seven exceptions that can be attributed to the following causes:
- One-party government After the parliamentary elections of 1957, in which the Union parties won an absolute majority and thus did not need a coalition partner, presented the CDU with Konrad Adenauer and Ludwig Erhard both the Chancellor and his deputy.
- Transitional arrangements This situation remained even after the general election in 1961, when the Union parties back in coalition with the FDP benefited obtained. Adenauer remained Chancellor, but his resignation was not provided in the legislature. After Adenauer's resignation 1963, the FDP chairman Erich Mende was Deputy Chancellor Erhard.
- Minority government Similar situations occurred after the breakup of the coalition government in 1966 and 1982. With the ministers of the small coalition partner FDP also eliminated the previous Vice Chancellor Erich Mende and Hans -Dietrich Genscher from office. In the following minority governments took over with Hans -Christoph Seebohm (CDU ) and Egon Franke (SPD ) members of the larger government party, the position of the Vice Chancellor. In both minority governments included both alone governments and to transitional arrangements.
- Grand Coalition With Willy Brandt (1966-1969), Franz Müntefering (2005-2007), Frank -Walter Steinmeier (2007-2009) and Sigmar Gabriel (since 2013) were four times each Social Democrats as part of a grand coalition under the leadership of a CDU - chancellor ( Kiesinger or Merkel ) appointed as Vice- chancellors.
A CSU member was never Vice-Chancellor. There were historically two occasions that the CSU this office could have claimed during a CDU / CSU - alone government. But 1957/1960 ( after leaving the DP from the Adenauer government ) was apparently the popularity of Ludwig Erhard decisive. In 1966 it was only a temporary solution after the exit of the FDP from the Erhard government.