Germany’s political system was ever changing from the
time it was unified in the 1870’s, until many years after the Second World War.
Some of its governments included monarchy, fascism and republic. The break in
government, West Germany verse East Germany, was a major setback in Germany’s
political infrastructure. Today, Germany’s government of civil law system has
developed from independence, constitution and their branches of government.
During WWII, Germany was a fascist totalitarian state
under the rule of Adolf Hitler. Once the Hitler regime was brought down, the
country split into two different governments, western Federal Republic of
Germany (FRG) and the eastern German Democratic Republic (GDR). West Germany
modeled western economic ideals of capitalism whereas East Germany based their
fundamentals on communism. By 1960, the split of the nation had peaked and the
Berlin wall was built to separate the nation’s capital. West Germany flourished
while their counterpart had major economic setbacks. With the decline of power
of the Soviet Union and the end of the Cold War, the German people broke down
the infamous Berlin wall in 1989. The unification of Germany occurred on
October 3rd, 1990 declaring East Germany free of the Socialist
Party.
The first governing doctrine of Germany was the Weimar
Constitution written in 1919. Many of the principles of the Weimar Constitution
were manipulated or revoked in order to enhance Hitler’s power. After WWII, a
constitutional doctrine was redrafted and put into force on May 24th,
1949 under the name of Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany. The Basic
Law was instated in order to prevent a dictatorship from reoccurring in West
Germany. The framework of the Basic Law comes from the Weimar Constitution,
however incorporating notions of human rights and dignity as central themes.
Some of the defining principles of the Basic Law are democracy, republicanism,
social responsibility and federalism. The Basic Law has had numerous amendments
in order to keep up with the changes of a growing Germany.
There
are 3 branches of government within the civil law system the executive,
legislative and judicial. The executive branch consists of a chief of state,
head of government and cabinet. The presidents are elected for a 5-year term
and only for two terms, a precaution for dictatorship. Federal Council, the
state governments, and the Federal Parliament, members whom are elected by
popular vote, make up the legislative branch. There are two parts to the
judicial branch, the highest court, which is made of the Federal Court of
Justice, and the subordinate courts, consisting of the Federal Administrative
Court, Federal Finance Court, Federal Labor Court, and the Federal Social
Court. These branches offered a check and balance system in order to help
maintain order and fairness within the German government.
Since
the independence from socialism, improved constitution and improved political system,
Germany has become one of the most influential countries within the European
Union. Germany has the fifth largest economy in the world and the largest in
Europe. Industries such as iron, steel and coal are among some of the largest
and most technologically advanced within the world. Each of these factors has
contributed to Germany being one of the most powerful and influential countries
in the European Union today.
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