Editing Politics of Germany (section)

==Executive==

===Head of state===
{{Main|President of Germany}}
[[File:Berlin - panoramio (165).jpg|thumb|[[Bellevue Palace (Germany)|Bellevue Palace]]]]

The German head of state is the federal president. As in Germany's [[parliamentary system]] of government, the [[Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)|federal chancellor]] runs the government and day-to-day politics, while the role of the federal president is mostly ceremonial. The federal president, by their actions and public appearances, represents the state itself, its existence, its legitimacy, and unity. Their office involves an integrative role.<ref>Website of the Federal President of Germany [http://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Role-and-Functions/ConstitutionalBasis/ConstitutionalBasis-node.html;jsessionid=199EA05B058DB4F409D855E3A833D30C.2_cid379] Retrieved 13 April 2014</ref> Nearly all actions of the federal president become valid only after a [[countersignature]] of a government member of Germany.

The president is not obliged by Constitution to refrain from political views. The president is expected to give direction to general political and societal debates, but not in a way that is linked to party politics. Most German presidents were active politicians and party members prior to the office, which means that they have to change their political style when becoming president. The function comprises the official residence of [[Bellevue Palace (Germany)|Bellevue Palace]].

Under Article 59 (1) of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]], the federal president represents the Federal Republic of Germany in matters of international law, concludes treaties with foreign states on its behalf and accredits diplomats.<ref>Website of the Federal President of Germany [http://www.bundespraesident.de/EN/Role-and-Functions/RoleInTheInternationalArena/roleintheinternationalarena-node.html] Retrieved 28 April 2014.</ref>

All federal laws must be signed by the president before they can come into effect. The president does not have formal a veto, but the conditions for refusing to sign a law on the basis of unconstitutionality are the subject of debate.<ref>{{Cite book|title= Grundrechtsbindung des Gesetzgebers: eine rechtsvergleichende Studie zu Deutschland, Frankreich und den USA|language=de|pages=123ff|first= Friederike Valerie|last= Lange|date=2010|isbn= 978-316-150420-4|publisher= Mohr Siebeck}}</ref> The office is currently held by [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] (since 2017). <!--update "current"-->

The federal president does have a role in the political system, especially at the establishment of a new government and the dissolution of the Bundestag (parliament). This role is usually nominal but can become significant in case of political instability. Additionally, a federal president together with the [[German Bundesrat|Federal Council]] can support the government in a "legislatory emergency state" to enable laws against the will of the Bundestag (Article 81 of the Basic Law). However, so far the federal president has never had to use these "[[reserve power]]s".

===Head of government===
{{Main|Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)}}
[[File:150515 Bundeskanzleramt (Berlin) Ostseite.jpg|thumb|[[German Chancellery]]]]

The ''[[Chancellor of Germany (1949–present)|Bundeskanzler]]'' (federal chancellor) heads the ''[[Cabinet of Germany|Bundesregierung]]'' (federal government) and thus the [[executive branch]] of the federal government. They are elected by and responsible to the ''[[Bundestag]]'', Germany's parliament. The other members of the government are the federal ministers; they are chosen by the Chancellor. Germany, like the United Kingdom, can thus be classified as a [[parliamentary system]]. The office is currently held by [[Friedrich Merz]] (since 2025). <!--update "current"-->

The Chancellor cannot be removed from office during a four-year term unless the ''Bundestag'' has agreed on a successor. This [[constructive vote of no confidence]] is intended to avoid a similar situation to that of the [[Weimar Republic]] in which the executive did not have enough support in the legislature to govern effectively, but the legislature was too divided to name a successor. The current system also prevents the Chancellor from calling a [[snap election]].

Except in the periods 1969–1972 and 1976–1982, when the Social Democratic party of Chancellors [[Willy Brandt|Brandt]] and [[Helmut Schmidt|Schmidt]] came in second in the elections, the chancellor has always been the candidate of the largest party, usually supported by a coalition of two parties with a majority in the parliament. The chancellor appoints one of the federal ministers as their deputy,<ref>Article 69 of the Basic Law</ref> who has the unofficial title [[Vice Chancellor of Germany|Vice Chancellor]] ({{langx|de|Vizekanzler}}). The office is currently held by [[Lars Klingbeil]] (since 2025). <!--update "current"-->

===Cabinet===
{{main|Cabinet of Germany}}

The German Cabinet ({{lang|de|Bundeskabinett}} or {{lang|de|Bundesregierung}}) is the chief [[executive branch|executive]] body of the Federal Republic of Germany. It consists of the [[Chancellor of Germany (Federal Republic)|chancellor]] and the [[cabinet minister]]s. The fundamentals of the cabinet's organization are set down in articles 62–69 of the [[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Basic Law]]. The current cabinet is Scholz (since 2021). 
<!--update "current"-->

===Agencies===
{{main|Federal agency (Germany)}}

{{Location  map+|Germany|width=350|float=right|caption=Agencies with head offices outside of Berlin and Bonn (Hover mouse over pog to popup clickable link.) |places=
{{location map~|Germany|lat=52.31433999999999|long=10.552990000000023|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation|BFU]]/[[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt|LBA]]</small>}}
{{location map~|Germany|lat=53.54665|long=9.967419999999947|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|BSH Hamburg]]/[[Federal Bureau for Maritime Casualty Investigation|BSU]]</small>}}
{{location map~|Germany|link=Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|lat=54.0971199|long=12.106117199999971|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|BSH Rostock]]</small>}}
{{location map~|Germany|link=Federal Intelligence Service (Germany)|lat=48.063377|long=11.529475899999966|mark=green pog.svg|marksize =5| position   =left|label = <small>[[Federal Intelligence Service (Germany)|BND]] (former)</small>}}
}}

Agencies of the German government include:
*[[Federal Intelligence Service (Germany)|Federal Intelligence Service]] ({{lang|de|Bundesnachrichtendienst}})
*[[German Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation|Federal Bureau of Aircraft Accident Investigation]] ({{lang|de|Bundesstelle für Flugunfalluntersuchung}})
*[[Luftfahrt-Bundesamt|Federal Aviation Office]] ({{lang|de|Luftfahrt-Bundesamt}})
*[[Federal Bureau for Maritime Casualty Investigation]] ({{lang|de|Bundesstelle für Seeunfalluntersuchung}})
*[[Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency of Germany|Federal Maritime and Hydrographic Agency]] ({{lang|de|Bundesamt für Seeschifffahrt und Hydrographie}})
*[[Eisenbahn-Unfalluntersuchungsstelle des Bundes|Federal Railway Accident Investigation Board]] ({{lang|de|Eisenbahn-Unfalluntersuchungsstelle des Bundes}})
*[[Federal Railway Authority]] ({{lang|de|Eisenbahn-Bundesamt}})