Politics in the Federal Republic of Germany Quiz

Answer: Bundestag

Since the mid 1990s the Bundestag and Bundesrat meet in the old Reichstag building in Berlin. The Bundesrat is the upper chamber and the Bundeswehr is the German military.

Answer: Hans Dietrich Genscher

Genscher is by far the diplomatic veteran of Germany. He was Foreign Minister for a total of 18 years! (1974-82 and 1982-92) Genscher was a member of the Free Democrats which was a swing Party in German politics. In other words until the advent of the Greens in government and several other Parties they would often be the Party that would allow the larger Christian Democrats or Social Democrats to form a government.

Therefore in the case of Genscher he first served an SPD Chancellor and then a CDU Chancellor. Walter Scheel served as Foreign Minister from 1969-74 (plus a one week caretaker stint as Chancellor when Brandt fell) and was later a Federal President. Stresemann was a great Weimar period Foreign Minister who died of a stroke at age 51. And Fischer was the first Green Party Foreign Minister who served under Gerhard Schroeder (1998-2005).

Answer: Helmut Kohl

Chancellor Kohl served for 16 years. Adenauer served for roughly 14 years. Schmidt for less than 8 years and Brandt for less than 5. He was eased out by the exposure of an East German spy on his staff.

Answer: A political party must secure 5% of the national vote before a deputy can take his seat in the Bundestag

The "sperrklausel" is not unique to Germany. The idea is to limit the number of political parties that come into Parliament and to enhance stability. It is a direct result of the disastrous Weimar Republic days when it is thought that the proliferation of political parties helped destabilize the government and allow the Nazis to come to power in 1933.

Answer: Ostpolitik

Ostpolitik or eastern policy can be arguably called one of the first thaws in the Cold War. This was a major departure from the Hallstein Doctrine which governed FRG foreign policy the adoption of the Brandt policy and stated that any country that recognized the GDR would not be recognized by the Federal Republic.

Answer: Ludwig Erhard

Herr Erhard was probably known for his role in this accomplishment as much as during his tenure as Finance Minister as Federal Chancellor

Answer: Basic Law or Grundgesetz

The Basic Law was established in 1949. The new Federal Government of Germany decided that they would not call it a constitution until the country was united again. Even after unification they have maintained the old name of Basic Law with only minor amendments.

The Weimar Constitution is long since defunct (for practical reasons we can date it's demise with the Enabling Laws by the Nazis in 1933). The Dawes Plan was designed to help Germany escape from the economic misery of the early/mid 1920s. Dawes became a Nobel Prize winner and Vice President under President Calvin Coolidge.

Answer: Helmut Schmidt

Konrad Adenauer was a Christian Democratic Party (CDU), former Mayor of Cologne and first Chancellor of the Federal Republic. Heinrich Bruening was a late Weimar Republic Chancellor. Kurt Schumacher was the leader of the SPD in the 1950s.

Answer: Kurt Georg Kiesinger 1966-69

Wehner was the former leader of the West German Communist Party. Genscher was the longest serving Foreign Minister of the Federal Republic and Heuss served as Federal President from 1949-59.

Answer: Bonn

The capital of the FRG was officially moved back to Berlin in April of 1999 when the Bundestag opened it's session in the Reichstag building. In recognition that some Federal government offices remain in Bonn it has been designated a "Bundesstadt" or Federal City. Until the collapse of the old German Democratic Republic, East Berlin was designated as it's capital.