Administrative divisions of Germany
The administrative divisions of Germany referred to the existing in the Federal Republic of Germany vertical administrative structures.
Statehood of federal and state
The management structure is initially characterized in that (federal and state ) must be distinguished on the basis of federalism between two levels of government.
The countries do not make it in the organizational sense, an administrative division of the Federation, but at best in functional terms at the federal through state-owned management.
In organizational terms, are to be distinguished:
- Federal administration direct administration ( by Federal )
- Indirect federal administration (particularly by federal corporations )
- Direct state administration ( by state authorities )
- Indirect state administration (especially local authorities )
Functionally, one can distinguish between:
- Federal through its own administrative authorities
- Federal through state-owned management on behalf of the Federal
- Federal through state-owned management in their own right of countries
- Land administration by state-owned management
Administrative divisions of the various countries
Each of the States of the Federal Republic of Germany has its own administrative structure. The structures of the different countries are comparable only in part.
It exist in all countries, communities that are in the city states Berlin and Hamburg, however, identical to the country. The two cities State Free Hanseatic City of Bremen is divided into only two municipalities (Bremen and Bremerhaven ). In the remaining 13 countries ( surface states ) the smaller communities in counties or similar community associations are summarized.
The smallest municipalities are still partly to an office or similar community association. Below the level of the community can be found in the largest cities other administrative units. In some countries above the county level, there are higher municipal associations.
Overview of the administrative levels
Subject to the statehood of the country and the peculiarities of administrative divisions within countries can be distinguished schematically as follows: