Editing Germany (section)

== Politics ==
{{Main|Politics of Germany|Taxation in Germany|Federal budget of Germany}}{{Multiple image
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| image1            = Bundespräsident_Frank-Walter_Steinmeier_auf_den_Stufen_der_Villa_Hammerschmidt_in_Bonn.jpg
| image2            = 2025-02-23 Bundestagswahl – Wahlabend CDU by Sandro Halank–084.jpg
| caption1          = [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]]<br /><small>[[President of Germany|President]]<br />since 2017</small>
| caption2          = [[Friedrich Merz]]<br /><small>[[Chancellor of Germany|Chancellor]]<br />since 2025</small>
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Germany is a [[federal republic|federal]], [[parliamentary democratic|parliamentary]], [[representative democracy|representative democratic]] republic.<ref name="CIA" /> Federal [[legislative power]] is vested in the parliament consisting of the {{lang|de|[[Bundestag]]}} (Federal Diet) and {{lang|de|[[Bundesrat of Germany|Bundesrat]]}} (Federal Council), which together form the legislative body. The {{lang|de|Bundestag}} is elected through [[direct election]]s using the [[mixed-member proportional representation]] system. The members of the {{lang|de|Bundesrat}} represent and are appointed by the governments of the sixteen federated states.<ref name="CIA" /> The German political system operates under a framework laid out in the 1949 constitution known as the {{lang|de|[[Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany|Grundgesetz]]}} (Basic Law). Amendments generally require a [[two-thirds majority]] of both the {{lang|de|Bundestag}} and the {{lang|de|Bundesrat}}; the fundamental principles of the constitution, as expressed in the articles guaranteeing human dignity, the separation of powers, the federal structure, and the [[rule of law]], are valid in perpetuity.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf |title=Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany |date=October 2010 |website=Deutscher Bundestag |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170619180331/https://www.btg-bestellservice.de/pdf/80201000.pdf |archivedate=19 June 2017 |accessdate=14 April 2011}}</ref>

[[President of Germany|The president]], who has been [[Frank-Walter Steinmeier]] since 2017, is the [[head of state]] and invested primarily with representative responsibilities and powers. He is elected by the {{lang|de|[[Bundesversammlung (Germany)|Bundesversammlung]]}} (federal convention), an institution consisting of the members of the {{lang|de|Bundestag}} and an equal number of state delegates.<ref name="CIA" /> The second-highest official in the [[German order of precedence]] is the {{lang|de|Bundestagspräsident}} ([[president of the Bundestag]]), who is elected by the {{lang|de|Bundestag}} and responsible for overseeing the daily sessions of the body.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.dw.com/en/election-2013-the-german-parliament/a-17100952|website=DW|title=Election 2013: The German parliament|date=19 September 2013|last=Seiffert|first=Jeanette|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200328230357/https://www.dw.com/en/election-2013-the-german-parliament/a-17100952|archivedate=28 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The third-highest official and the [[head of government]] is the chancellor, who is appointed by the {{lang|de|Bundespräsident}} after being elected by the party or coalition with the most seats in the {{lang|de|Bundestag}}.<ref name="CIA" /> [[Chancellor of Germany|The chancellor]], who has been [[Friedrich Merz]] since 2025, is the head of government and exercises [[executive (government)|executive power]] through [[Cabinet of Germany|his Cabinet]].<ref name="CIA" />

Since 1949, the party system has been dominated by the [[Christian Democratic Union (Germany)|Christian Democratic Union]] and the [[Social Democratic Party of Germany]]. So far every chancellor has been a member of one of these parties. However, the smaller liberal [[Free Democratic Party (Germany)|Free Democratic Party]] and the [[Alliance 90/The Greens]] have also been junior partners in [[coalition government]]s. Since 2007, the democratic socialist party [[The Left (Germany)|The Left]] has been a staple in the German {{lang|de|Bundestag}}, though they have never been part of the federal government.<ref>{{cite web |date=7 June 2019 |title=Germany's political parties CDU, CSU, SPD, AfD, FDP, Left party, Greens – what you need to know |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-political-parties-cdu-csu-spd-afd-fdp-left-party-greens-what-you-need-to-know/a-38085900 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200214204745/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-political-parties-cdu-csu-spd-afd-fdp-left-party-greens-what-you-need-to-know/a-38085900 |archivedate=14 February 2020 |website=DW}}</ref> In the [[2017 German federal election]], the right-wing populist [[Alternative for Germany]] gained enough votes to attain representation in the parliament for the first time.<ref>{{cite news|url=https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/german-election-results-exit-poll-2017-live-latest-afd-mps-merkel-alternative-a7964796.html|website=The Independent|title=German elections: Far-right wins MPs for first time in half a century|last=Stone|first=Jon|date=24 September 2017|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200227224650/https://www.independent.co.uk/news/world/politics/german-election-results-exit-poll-2017-live-latest-afd-mps-merkel-alternative-a7964796.html|archivedate=27 February 2020|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Constituent states ===
{{Main|States of Germany|Federalism in Germany|List of current heads of government of the German federal states}}

Germany is a [[federation]] and comprises sixteen constituent states which are collectively referred to as {{lang|de|Länder}}.<ref name="Britannica">{{Cite encyclopedia |url=https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany |title=Germany |encyclopedia=Encyclopedia Britannica |url-status=live |accessdate=18 March 2021 |archivedate=13 June 2015 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150613043752/https://www.britannica.com/place/Germany }}</ref> Each state ({{lang|de|Land}}) has its own constitution,<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/GB_I/I.7/Europa/Wissenswertes/English_information/North_Rhine_Westphalia_Constitution_revised.jsp |title=Example for state constitution: "Constitution of the Land of North Rhine-Westphalia" |publisher=[[Landtag of North Rhine-Westphalia|Landtag (state assembly) of North Rhine-Westphalia]] |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130117011619/http://www.landtag.nrw.de/portal/WWW/GB_I/I.7/Europa/Wissenswertes/English_information/North_Rhine_Westphalia_Constitution_revised.jsp |archivedate=17 January 2013 |accessdate=17 July 2011}}</ref> and is largely autonomous in regard to its internal organisation.<ref name="Britannica" /> {{As of|2017}}, Germany is divided into 401 [[Districts of Germany|districts]] ({{lang|de|Kreise}}) at a municipal level; these consist of 294 [[List of rural districts of Germany|rural districts]] and 107 [[Urban districts of Germany|urban districts]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/LaenderRegionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/Archiv/Verwaltungsgliederung/Verwalt2QAktuell.xlsx?__blob=publicationFile |title=Verwaltungsgliederung in Deutschland am 30 June 2017 – Gebietsstand: 30 June 2017 (2. Quartal) |date=July 2017 |publisher=[[Statistisches Bundesamt]] Deutschland |language=German |format=XLS |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20171010084800/https://www.destatis.de/DE/ZahlenFakten/LaenderRegionen/Regionales/Gemeindeverzeichnis/Administrativ/Archiv/Verwaltungsgliederung/Verwalt2QAktuell.xlsx?__blob=publicationFile |archivedate=10 October 2017 |accessdate=9 August 2017}}</ref><!--"Kreis", "Landkreis" and 3 special regional districts count as rural districts; "Stadtkreis" and "kreisfreie Stadt" are urban districts.-->

<div style="float: left;margin:0 2em 0 0;">{{German Federal States}}</div>

{| cellspacing="2px"
|
{| class="sortable wikitable" style="text-align:left; font-size:85%;"
|- style="font-size:100%; text-align:right;"
! rowspan="2" style="width:150px;" | State !! rowspan="2" style="width:70px;" |Capital !! colspan="2" style="width:80px;" | Area<ref name="Fläche">{{Cite web |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/bevoelkerung/flaeche-und-bevoelkerung |title=Fläche und Bevölkerung |website=Statistikportal.de |language=de |accessdate=15 July 2018 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20180612143938/https://www.statistikportal.de/de/bevoelkerung/flaeche-und-bevoelkerung |archivedate=12 June 2018 |url-status=live }}</ref> !! rowspan="2" style="width:60px;" | Population<br />(census 2022)<ref name="Census2022.DE"/> !! colspan="2" style="width:150px;" | [[List of German states by GRP|Nominal GDP]]<ref >{{Cite web |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/vgrdl/ergebnisse-laenderebene/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bruttowertschoepfung/bip |title=Bruttoinlandsprodukt, Bruttowertschöpfung |publisher=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder |date=28 March 2024 |language=german }}</ref>  !! rowspan="2" style="width:60px;" | [[List of German states by GRP per capita|Nominal GDP per capita]] EUR (2023)<ref >{{Cite web |url=https://www.statistikportal.de/de/vgrdl/ergebnisse-laenderebene/bruttoinlandsprodukt-bruttowertschoepfung#alle-ergebnisse |title=Bruttoinlandsprodukt, Bruttowertschöpfung (Inhaltsverzeichnis Reihe 1991–2023) |publisher=Statistische Ämter des Bundes und der Länder|date=28 March 2024 |language=german}}</ref>
|-
! scope="col" | km<sup>2</sup> !! scope="col" | mi<sup>2</sup> !! scope="col" | Billions EUR (2023) !! scope="col" | Share of<br />GDP (%)
|-
| [[Baden-Württemberg]] || [[Stuttgart]] || {{cvt|35751|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|11,104,040}} || {{right|615.071}} || {{right|14.92}} || {{right|54,339}}
|-
| [[Bavaria]] || [[Munich]] || {{cvt|70550|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|13,038,724}} || {{right|768.469}} || {{right|18.65}} || {{right|57,343}}
|-
| [[Berlin]] || [[Berlin]] || {{cvt|892|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|3,596,999}} || {{right|193.219}} || {{right|4.69}} || {{right|51,209}}
|-
| [[Brandenburg]] || [[Potsdam]] || {{cvt|29654|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|2,534,075}} || {{right|97.477}} || {{right|2.37}} || {{right|37,814}}
|-
| [[Bremen (state)|Bremen]] || [[Bremen]] || {{cvt|420|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|693,204}} || {{right|39.252}} || {{right|0.95}} || {{right|56,981}}
|-
| [[Hamburg]] || [[Hamburg]] || {{cvt|755|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|1,808,846}} || {{right|150.575}} || {{right|3.65}} || {{right|79,176}}
|-
| [[Hesse]] || [[Wiesbaden]] || {{cvt|21115|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|6,207,278}} || {{right|351.139}} || {{right|8.52}} || {{right|54,806}}
|-
| [[Mecklenburg-Vorpommern]] || [[Schwerin]] || {{cvt|23214|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|1,570,817}} || {{right|59.217}} || {{right|1.44}} || {{right|36,335}}
|-
| [[Lower Saxony]] || [[Hanover]] || {{cvt|47593|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|7,943,265}} || {{right|363.109}} || {{right|8.81}} || {{right|44,531}}
|-
| [[North Rhine-Westphalia]] || [[Düsseldorf]] || {{cvt|34113|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|17,890,489}} || {{right|839.084}} || {{right|20.36}} || {{right|46,194}}
|-
| [[Rhineland-Palatinate]] || [[Mainz]] || {{cvt|19854|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|4,094,169}} || {{right|174.249}} || {{right|4.23}} || {{right|41,797}}
|-
| [[Saarland]] || [[Saarbrücken]] || {{cvt|2569|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|1,006,864}} || {{right|41.348}} || {{right|1.00}} || {{right|41,617}}
|-
| [[Saxony]] || [[Dresden]] || {{cvt|18416|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|4,038,131}} || {{right|155.982}} || {{right|3.78}} || {{right|38,143}}
|-
| [[Saxony-Anhalt]] || [[Magdeburg]] || {{cvt|20452|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|2,146,443}} || {{right|78.38}} || {{right|1.90}} || {{right|35,911}}
|-
| [[Schleswig-Holstein]] || [[Kiel]] || {{cvt|15802|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|2,927,542}} || {{right|118.68}} || {{right|2.88}} || {{right|40,090}}
|-
| [[Thuringia]] || [[Erfurt]] || {{cvt|16202|km2|mi2|0|adj=ri0|abbr=values|sortable=on|disp=table}} || {{right|2,110,396}} || {{right|75.909}} || {{right|1.84}} || {{right|35,715}}
|- class=sortbottom
! style="text-align:center;" | Germany
! [[Berlin]] || 357,386 || 137,988 || 82,719,540 || 4,121.16 || 100 || 48,750
|}
|}{{clear}}

=== Law ===

{{Main|Law of Germany|Judiciary of Germany|Law enforcement in Germany}}

Germany has a [[civil law (legal system)|civil law system]] based on [[Roman law]] with some references to [[Germanic law]].<ref>{{cite book|pages=31–32, 62|isbn=978-0-8047-5569-6|year=2007|publisher=Stanford University Press|title=The Civil Law Tradition: An Introduction to the Legal Systems of Europe and Latin America|last1=Merryman|first1=John|last2=Pérez-Perdomo|first2=Rogelio}}</ref> The {{lang|de|[[Federal Constitutional Court of Germany|Bundesverfassungsgericht]]}} (Federal Constitutional Court) is the German Supreme Court responsible for constitutional matters, with power of [[judicial review]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/EN/Homepage/home_node.html |title=Federal Constitutional Court |publisher=Bundesverfassungsgericht |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20141213204356/http://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/EN/Homepage/home_node.html |archivedate=13 December 2014 |accessdate=25 March 2015}}</ref> Germany's specialised supreme court system includes the [[inquisitorial system|inquisitorial]] [[Federal Court of Justice]] for civil and criminal cases, along with the [[Federal Labour Court]], [[Federal Social Court]], [[Federal Fiscal Court]], and [[Federal Administrative Court (Germany)|Federal Administrative Court]] for other matters.<ref>{{cite web|url=https://germanlawarchive.iuscomp.org/?p=363|website=German Law Archive|title=The Federal Constitutional Court: an Introduction|last=Wöhrmann|first=Gotthard|date=22 November 2013 |accessdate=29 March 2020|archivedate=20 June 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210620152752/https://germanlawarchive.iuscomp.org/?p=363|url-status=live}}</ref>

Criminal and private laws are codified on the national level in the {{lang|de|[[Strafgesetzbuch]]}} and the {{lang|de|[[Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch]]}} respectively. The German penal system seeks the [[Rehabilitation (penology)|rehabilitation of the criminal]] and the protection of the public.<ref>{{Cite web |title=§&nbsp;2 Strafvollzugsgesetz |language=de |publisher=Bundesministerium der Justiz |url=http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stvollzg/__2.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501122109/http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/stvollzg/__2.html |archivedate=1 May 2011 |accessdate=26 March 2011 |url-status=live}}</ref> With the exceptions of petty crimes, tried by a single professional judge, and of serious political crimes, all charges are adjudicated by mixed tribunals where [[lay judge]]s ({{lang|de|[[Schöffe]]n}}) and professional judges preside together.<ref>{{Cite book |url=https://books.google.com/books?id=-V-ng-8jOoQC&pg=PA23 |title=Criminal Justice in Germany |last1=Jehle |first1=Jörg-Martin |last2=German Federal Ministry of Justice |author2-link=Federal Ministry of Justice (Germany) |publisher=Forum-Verlag |year=2009 |isbn=978-3-936999-51-8 |page=23 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20150922094303/https://books.google.com/books?id=-V-ng-8jOoQC&pg=PA23 |archivedate=22 September 2015 |url-status=live}}</ref><ref>{{Cite journal |last1=Casper |first1=Gerhard |last2=Zeisel |first2=Hans |author-link2=:de:Hans Zeisel |date=January 1972 |title=Lay Judges in the German Criminal Courts |journal=[[Journal of Legal Studies]] |volume=1 |issue=1 |pages=135–191 |doi=10.1086/467481 |jstor=724014 |s2cid=144941508 |author1-link=Gerhard Casper}}</ref>

In 2016, Germany's murder rate stood at a low of 1.18 murders per 100,000.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://dataunodc.un.org/crime/intentional-homicide-victims|publisher=United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime|title=Intentional Homicide Victims|accessdate=30 March 2020|url-status=live|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190726024322/https://dataunodc.un.org/crime/intentional-homicide-victims|archivedate=26 July 2019}}</ref> In 2018, the overall [[Crime in Germany|crime rate]] fell to its lowest since 1992.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-crime-rate-fell-to-lowest-level-in-decades-in-2018/a-48162310 |title=Germany's crime rate fell to lowest level in decades in 2018 |date=2 April 2019 |website=DW |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190517192912/https://www.dw.com/en/germanys-crime-rate-fell-to-lowest-level-in-decades-in-2018/a-48162310 |archivedate=17 May 2019 |url-status=live}}</ref>

[[Same-sex marriage in Germany|Same-sex marriage]] has been legal in Germany since 2017, and [[LGBT rights in Germany|LGBT rights]] are generally protected in the country.<ref>{{cite web |title=STONEWALL GLOBAL WORKPLACE BRIEFINGS 2018 – GERMANY |url=https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/global_workplace_briefing_germany_2018.pdf |website=Stonewall |accessdate=2 September 2023 |archivedate=2 September 2023 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20230902193738/https://www.stonewall.org.uk/system/files/global_workplace_briefing_germany_2018.pdf |url-status=live }}</ref>

=== Foreign relations ===
{{Main|Foreign relations of Germany}}
[[File:Group photo of the G7 members at the Scholss Elmau summit (2).jpg|thumb|Germany hosted the [[2022 G7 summit]] at [[Schloss Elmau]] in [[Bavaria]].]]
Germany has a network of 227 diplomatic missions abroad<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/auslandsvertretungen |title=The German Missions Abroad |publisher=German Federal Foreign Office |accessdate=29 March 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327191034/https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/auslandsvertretungen |archivedate=27 March 2020 |url-status=live}}</ref> and maintains relations with more than 190 countries.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/auslandsvertretungen/botschaften-node |title=The Embassies |publisher=German Federal Foreign Office |accessdate=29 March 2020 |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200327191019/https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/en/aamt/auslandsvertretungen/botschaften-node |archivedate=27 March 2020 |url-status=live }}</ref> Germany is a member of the [[Council of Europe]], [[NATO]], the [[Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development|OECD]], the [[G7]], the [[G20]], the [[World Bank]] and the [[International Monetary Fund|IMF]]. It has played an influential role in the European Union since its inception and has maintained a [[Franco-German cooperation|strong alliance with France]] and all neighbouring countries since 1990. Germany promotes the creation of a more unified European political, economic and security apparatus.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Declaration-by-the-Franco-German,4519.html |title=Declaration by the Franco-German Defence and Security Council |date=13 May 2004 |publisher=French Embassy UK |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20140327015942/http://www.ambafrance-uk.org/Declaration-by-the-Franco-German%2C4519.html |archivedate=27 March 2014 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/world/europe/04iht-poll.4.11666423.html |title=The leader of Europe? Answers an ocean apart |last=Freed |first=John |date=4 April 2008 |work=The New York Times |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110501031326/http://www.nytimes.com/2008/04/04/world/europe/04iht-poll.4.11666423.html |archivedate=1 May 2011}}</ref><ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/610644/49a58b5ecfd5a78862b051d94465afb6/gestaltungsmaechtekonzept-engl-data.pdf|title=Shaping Globalization – Expanding Partner-ships – Sharing Responsibility: A strategy paper by the German Government|publisher=Die Bundesregierung|accessdate=29 March 2020|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200329142145/https://www.auswaertiges-amt.de/blob/610644/49a58b5ecfd5a78862b051d94465afb6/gestaltungsmaechtekonzept-engl-data.pdf|archivedate=29 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> The governments of Germany and the United States [[Germany–United States relations|are close political allies]].<ref>{{cite web|url=https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-germany/|title=U.S. Relations With Germany|date=4 November 2019|publisher=US Department of State|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20200331094945/https://www.state.gov/u-s-relations-with-germany/|archivedate=31 March 2020|url-status=live}}</ref> Cultural ties and economic interests have crafted a bond between the two countries resulting in [[Atlanticism]].<ref>{{Cite web |date=May 2006 |title=U.S.-German Economic Relations Factsheet |url=http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/img/assets/9336/econ_factsheet_may2006.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110511123309/http://germany.usembassy.gov/germany/img/assets/9336/econ_factsheet_may2006.pdf |archivedate=11 May 2011 |accessdate=26 March 2011 |publisher=U.S. Embassy in Berlin}}</ref>

After 1990, [[Germany–Russia relations|Germany and Russia]] worked together to establish a "strategic partnership" in which [[energy development]] became one of the most important factors. As a result of the cooperation, Germany imported most of its natural gas and crude oil from Russia.<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/pdf/eng/Ch8Doc13English.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170814094438/http://germanhistorydocs.ghi-dc.org/pdf/eng/Ch8Doc13English.pdf |archivedate=14 August 2017 |title=Volume 10. One Germany in Europe, 1989–2009 Germany and Russia |date=13 March 2006 |publisher=German Institute for International and Security Affairs |accessdate=3 April 2022}}</ref><ref>{{cite journal| url= http://www.eprg.group.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/binder13.pdf |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20091122110120/http://www.eprg.group.cam.ac.uk/wp-content/uploads/2009/06/binder13.pdf |archivedate=22 November 2009| title= A Market Between Us: Reducing the Political Cost of Europe's Dependence on Russian Gas| publisher=[[University of Cambridge]] Electricity Policy Research Group| last = Noël | first = Pierre| page = 2; 38| journal = EPRG Working Paper |date=May 2009| accessdate=30 January 2010| id = EPRG0916}}</ref>

Germany's development policy functions as a distinct sector within its foreign policy framework. It is formulated by the Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development and carried out by the implementing organisations. The German government sees development policy as a joint responsibility of the international community.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bmz.de/en/index.html |title=Aims of German development policy |publisher=Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development |date=10 April 2008 |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110310120541/http://www.bmz.de/en/index.html |archivedate=10 March 2011 }}</ref> It was the world's [[List of development aid sovereign state donors|second-biggest aid donor]] in 2019 after the United States.<ref>{{Cite web|url=https://www.devex.com/news/germany-foreign-aid-and-the-elusive-0-7-95389|website=Devex|title=Germany, foreign aid, and the elusive 0.7%|last=Green|first=Andrew|date=8 August 2019|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20190808125018/https://www.devex.com/news/germany-foreign-aid-and-the-elusive-0-7-95389|archivedate=8 August 2019|url-status=live}}</ref>

=== Military ===
{{Main|Bundeswehr}}
[[File:Spürpanzer Fuchs.jpg|thumb|A German [[TPz Fuchs]] armoured personnel carrier]]
Germany's military, the {{lang|de|Bundeswehr}} (Federal Defence), is organised into the {{lang|de|[[German Army|Heer]]}} (Army and special forces [[Kommando Spezialkräfte|{{abbr|KSK|Kommando Spezialkräfte}}]]), {{lang|de|[[German Navy|Marine]]}} (Navy), {{lang|de|[[German Air Force|Luftwaffe]]}} (Air Force) and {{lang|de|[[Cyber and Information Domain Service|Cyber- und Informationsraum]]}} (Cyber and Information Domain Service) branches.<ref>{{Cite web |date=29 July 2024 |title=Bundeswehr der Zeitenwende: Kriegstüchtig sein, um abschrecken zu können |url=https://www.bmvg.de/de/aktuelles/bundeswehr-der-zeitenwende-kriegstuechtig-sein-um-abzuschrecken-5765386|website=bmvg.de |language=de}}</ref> In absolute terms, German military spending in 2023 was the [[List of countries by military expenditures|seventh-highest in the world]].<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Nan |last1=Tian|first2= Diego Lopes |last2=da Silva|first3= Xiao |last3=Liang |first4= Lorenzo |last4=Scarazzato |title=Trends in Military Expenditure 2023 |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2024-04/2404_fs_milex_2023.pdf |date=April 2024 |website=sipri.org |page=2}}</ref> In response to the 2022 [[Russo-Ukrainian War|Russian invasion of Ukraine]], Chancellor Olaf Scholz announced that German military expenditure would be increased past the NATO target of 2%, along with a one-time 2022 infusion of 100&nbsp;billion euros, representing almost double the 53&nbsp;billion euro military budget for 2021.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Germany commits €100 billion to defense spending |date=27 February 2022 |url=https://www.dw.com/en/germany-commits-100-billion-to-defense-spending/a-60933724 |website=Deutsche Welle |archive-date=27 February 2022 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227113954/https://www.dw.com/en/germany-commits-100-billion-to-defense-spending/a-60933724 |url-status=live }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |last=Schuetze |first=Christopher F. |date=27 February 2022 |title=Russia's invasion prompts Germany to beef up military funding |work=The New York Times |url=https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/world/europe/germany-military-budget-russia-ukraine.html |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20220227133236/https://www.nytimes.com/2022/02/27/world/europe/germany-military-budget-russia-ukraine.html |archivedate=27 February 2022 |url-status=live}}</ref> In 2023, military spending according to NATO criteria amounted to $73.1 billion, or 1.64% of the country's GDP, well below the NATO target of 2%. In 2024, Germany reported $97.7 billion to NATO, exceeding the NATO target of 2% at 2.12% of GDP.<ref name=":0">{{Cite web |date=17 June 2024 |title=Defence Expenditure of NATO Countries (2014–2024) |url=https://www.nato.int/nato_static_fl2014/assets/pdf/2024/6/pdf/240617-def-exp-2024-en.pdf#page=8|publisher=NATO|pages=8–9 |format=PDF}}</ref>

{{as of|2024|05}}, the {{lang|de|Bundeswehr}} has a strength of 180,215 active soldiers and 80,761 civilians.<ref>{{Cite web |title=Personalzahlen |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/de/ueber-die-bundeswehr/zahlen-daten-fakten/personalzahlen-bundeswehr |accessdate=31 July 2024 |publisher=Bundeswehr |language=de}}</ref> Reservists are available to the armed forces and participate in defence exercises and deployments abroad.<ref name="bwzukunft">{{Cite web |url=http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP3I5EyrpHK9pPKUVL3ikqLUzJLsosTUtJJUvbzU0vTU4pLEnJLSvHRUuYKcxDygoH5BtqMiAMTJdF8!/ |title=Ausblick: Die Bundeswehr der Zukunft |publisher=[[Bundeswehr]] |language=German |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110604001134/http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/!ut/p/c4/04_SB8K8xLLM9MSSzPy8xBz9CP3I5EyrpHK9pPKUVL3ikqLUzJLsosTUtJJUvbzU0vTU4pLEnJLSvHRUuYKcxDygoH5BtqMiAMTJdF8!/ |archivedate=4 June 2011 |accessdate=5 June 2011}}</ref> Until 2011, [[Conscription in Germany|military service was compulsory]] for men at age 18, but this has been officially suspended and replaced with a voluntary service.<ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service |title=Germany to abolish compulsory military service |last=Connolly, Kate |date=22 November 2010 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130917223043/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2010/nov/22/germany-abolish-compulsory-military-service |archivedate=17 September 2013 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite news |url=https://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/16/conscription-germany-army |title=Marching orders for conscription in Germany, but what will take its place? |last=Pidd, Helen |date=16 March 2011 |work=The Guardian |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20130922000942/http://www.theguardian.com/world/2011/mar/16/conscription-germany-army |archivedate=22 September 2013 }}</ref> Since 2001 women may serve in all functions of service without restriction.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/!ut/p/c4/FcwxEoUgDAXAE0l6O0_x1YZ5QMSMEp2In-urs_3STC_FXzKqHIqdRpqi9KG50BK7qxpL3Qy8VHbZbk07MqtbDDerF_WJzYdGv286DbmAJj26iLgynaUMD6qutPs!/ |title=Frauen in der Bundeswehr |publisher=[[Bundeswehr]] |language=German |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20110429090325/http://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/!ut/p/c4/FcwxEoUgDAXAE0l6O0_x1YZ5QMSMEp2In-urs_3STC_FXzKqHIqdRpqi9KG50BK7qxpL3Qy8VHbZbk07MqtbDDerF_WJzYdGv286DbmAJj26iLgynaUMD6qutPs!/ |archivedate=29 April 2011 |accessdate=14 April 2011}}</ref> According to the [[Stockholm International Peace Research Institute]], Germany was the [[List of countries by arms exports|fifth-largest exporter of major arms in the world]] from 2019 to 2023.<ref>{{Cite web |first1=Pieter D. |last1=Wezeman|first2= Katarina |last2=Djokic|first3= Mathew|last3= George|first4= Zain |last4=Hussain |first5=Siemon T. |last5=Wezeman |title=Trends in international Arms Transfer 2023 |url=https://www.sipri.org/sites/default/files/2024-03/fs_2403_at_2023.pdf |date=March 2024 |website=sipri.org |page=2 }}</ref>

In peacetime, the {{lang|de|Bundeswehr}} is commanded by the Minister of Defence. In a [[state of defence]], the Chancellor would become commander-in-chief of the {{lang|de|Bundeswehr}}.<ref>{{Cite web |url=http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/gg/gesamt.pdf |title=Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland, Artikel 65a,87,115b |publisher=Bundesministerium der Justiz |language=German |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170528210503/http://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/bundesrecht/gg/gesamt.pdf |archivedate=28 May 2017 |accessdate=19 March 2011 }}</ref> The role of the {{lang|de|Bundeswehr}} is described in the [[Constitution of Germany]] as defensive only. But after a ruling of the Federal Constitutional Court in 1994, the term "defence" has been defined not only to include protection of the borders of Germany, but also crisis reaction and conflict prevention, or more broadly as guarding the [[security]] of Germany anywhere in the world. {{As of|2017|post=,}} the German military has about 3,600 troops stationed in foreign countries as part of international peacekeeping forces, including about 1,200 supporting operations against [[Daesh]], 980 in the NATO-led [[Resolute Support Mission]] in Afghanistan, and 800 in [[Kosovo]].<ref>{{Cite web |url=https://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/start/einsaetze/ueberblick/zahlen/!ut/p/z1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjo8zinSx8QnyMLI2MXIKDnQ0cQ13NQl2DHY0NzMz0wwkpiAJKG-AAjgb6wSmp-pFAM8xxmuELVKQfpR-VlViWWKFXkF9UkpNaopeYDHKhfmRGYl5KTmpAfrIjRKAgN6LcoNxREQC-OoUy/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/#Z7_B8LTL2922DSSC0AUE6UESA30M0 |title=Einsatzzahlen – die Stärke der deutschen Kontingente |date=18 August 2017 |publisher=[[Bundeswehr]] |language=German |url-status=live |archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20170823022636/https://www.bundeswehr.de/portal/a/bwde/start/einsaetze/ueberblick/zahlen/!ut/p/z1/04_Sj9CPykssy0xPLMnMz0vMAfIjo8zinSx8QnyMLI2MXIKDnQ0cQ13NQl2DHY0NzMz0wwkpiAJKG-AAjgb6wSmp-pFAM8xxmuELVKQfpR-VlViWWKFXkF9UkpNaopeYDHKhfmRGYl5KTmpAfrIjRKAgN6LcoNxREQC-OoUy/dz/d5/L2dBISEvZ0FBIS9nQSEh/#Z7_B8LTL2922DSSC0AUE6UESA30M0 |archivedate=23 August 2017 }}</ref><ref>{{Cite web|date=1 June 2020|title=Germany extends unified armed forces mission in Mali|url=https://internationalinsider.org/germany-extends-unified-armed-forces-mission-in-mali/|website=International Insider|accessdate=6 March 2021|archivedate=26 February 2021|archiveurl=https://web.archive.org/web/20210226221509/https://internationalinsider.org/germany-extends-unified-armed-forces-mission-in-mali/|url-status=live}}</ref>
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