Welcome to Germany

Germany

State symbolWelcome to the Federal Republic of Germany. Germany is a federation with 16 states (Länder). These states have their own areas of responsibility. States are actually responsible for municipal administration, internal security, schools, universities and cultures. States do not only enforce their own laws, but that of the Federation. States have representatives in the lower house (Bundesrat). These representatives take part in making federal laws.

North Rhine Westphalia is the most populous state of Germany, with a population of over 17.6 million.



The State Symbol

State symbolThe Federal Eagle is the German state symbol. The Federal president, the Bundestag, Bundesrat and Federal constitutional court use different designs of the Federal Eagle. You would also see different designs of the Federal Eagle on coins and uniforms of German sports associations.



The Flag

State symbolThe colors of the German flag are black, red and gold.



The Currency

State symbolSince 01.01.2002, the Euro has been the legal tender of Germany. The Euro is issued by the European Central Bank(ECB) with its headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany.

Before the Euro, the deutschmark was legal tender in Germany since 1948



The National Holiday

State symbolThe 3rd of October is the National Holiday in Germany declared in the Federal law. This was declared in the unification treaty of 1990 when East and West Germany united.



The Basic Law

State symbolThe Basic law (Grundgesetz) with its 148 articles defines the basic system and values of the state of Germany. It supercedes all other laws. This law was passed in 1949 in Bonn and adopted in 1990 as the permanent constitution of Germany. The law prohibits any form of discrimination based on language, homeland and origin (Article 3, paragraph 3, first sentence of the German Basic Law). This is binding for the legislator, for the administration on all levels of the German state and for the judiciary.



Other interesting facts

  • Germany has a population of 81.2 million comprising 41.4 million women and 39.8 million men.
  • Germany has a low birth rate (1.3), a rising life expectancy (77years for male and 82 years for female) and an aging population.
  • Over 20% (more than 16 million) of people living in Germany have a migration background with more than 9 million of them having German passports.
  • Germany lies in central Europe and shares its borders with 9 other countries. It is the 4th largest country in Europe after France, Spain and Sweden.
  • Germany has a moderate climate. In July mean temperatures vary between 12 and 22 degrees centigrade and in January between -3 and 2.
  • The German parliament is the Bundestag. It is voted every four years by eligible citizens above the age of 18. The Bundestag votes the German chancelor.
  • The Federal president is, in terms of protocol, the most senior representative of the state, followed by the president of the Bundestag. The office with the greatest political power is that of the Federal Chancellor. The Federal Chancellor and the Federal ministers form the Federal Government.

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Links

This website was developed within the framework of "KOMM-AN NRW" funded by the State of North Rhine-Westphalia (Ministry of Labor, Integration and Social Affairs NRW).

Ce site Web a été développé dans le cadre de "KOMM-AN NRW" financé par l'état de Rhénanie du Nord-Westphalie (Ministère du Travail, de l'Intégration et des Affaires sociales NRW).

Logo Ministeriums für Kinder, Familie, Flüchtlinge und Integration des Landes Nordrhein-Westfalen
Gefordert in Rahmen der Komm-AN NRW