Politics of Berlin

Politicians in Berlin splits into federal, state and local politics. The country's policy extends due to the position of Berlin as a city state on issues of the city as a whole, while playing the local and municipal politics rather at the district level, although Berlin is unified community.

Federal policy

Since reunification, the Federal Republic of Germany with the German Democratic Republic on 3 October 1990 Berlin is the capital of the Federal Republic now common. On 20 June 1991, the German Bundestag decided in the so-called capital decision that Berlin should be the governmental and parliamentary seat of a united Germany. Therefore subjected in consequence more and more federal agencies to Berlin.

Today, Berlin is seat of the federal government, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. In contrast to other major cities of Berlin is not the only seat of government departments and key federal institutions. Numerous federal agencies are located in the city of Bonn. All ministries have in each of the cities either their first or their second seat. Since 2008, a majority of the Ministry employees working in Berlin.

The Federal Chancellery newly built (from the Berlin press as a washing machine dubbed ) is located in the Mitte district, just like the Reichstag building, which meets the Bundestag, and the former Prussian House, seat of the Bundesrat.

Country's politics

The country and the city of Berlin to be governed by the Senate of Berlin, next to the members of the Governing Mayor of up to eight senators. The Governing Mayor corresponds to the country level the Prime Ministers of other states, its own mayor for the city, there is not. The Senate meets in Berlin Rathaus ( Red City Hall ). The legislative branch is represented by the House of Representatives, which meets in the Prussian Landtag. Due to a reform of the country's constitution in 2006, the conditions for instruments of direct democracy in Berlin have been significantly strengthened, which has since been moved several popular legislation proceedings.

Countries merger of Berlin and Brandenburg

In 1996, the state governments of Berlin and Brandenburg failed in a referendum while attempting a merger countries. But above all, the numerical dominance of Berlin in all fractions of a future parliament, the civil distant discussion about the merger and the financial problems of the State of Berlin were blamed. Nevertheless, the cooperation between the two states has been intensified in the following years, many institutions have been merged. About a new referendum on the merger has since been repeatedly discussed, as advocated by many social forces.

Local politics

Since 1 January 2001, Berlin is subdivided into the following twelve districts: Mitte, Friedrichshain- Kreuzberg, Pankow, Charlottenburg- Wilmersdorf, Spandau, Steglitz -Zehlendorf, Tempelhof -Schöneberg, and Neukölln, Treptow -Köpenick, Marzahn -Hellersdorf, Lichtenberg, Reinickendorf. Political committees at the district level, the district assembly and the district office, which consists of elected officials and is chaired by the District Mayor. A reform of the District Administration Act in 2006 for the first time the opportunity to petition for a referendum and at the level of districts in Berlin has been introduced, which are used by the population active.

Seat distributions

The graphics visualize each of the number of seats, but not mandatory, as the supply and deputies actually sit.