Which house is most similar to the U.S. House of Representatives?
In Germany, parliament has two houses: Bundestag and Bundesrat. The lower house, the Bundestag, is the most powerful. Its members are elected from the states in Germany. The chief executive of Germany’s government and head of military is the Chancellor. The chancellor is chosen from the Bundestag. The head of state is called President. His role is mainly ceremonial and symbolic. The governments of each state select the members of the Bundesrat. The numbers of each state are based on the population of the state. The Bundesrat is mainly concerned with laws that affect the state, such as educational laws and local government issues. The constitution of Germany is called the Basic Law. Germany is a representative democracy that operates under the Federal system. The states and central government have equal power. The people of Germany have freedom of religion, the press, protection of family, and expression. They have equal rights in the law. Germany is considered a welfare state that takes care of the unemployed, poor, disabled, old, and sick.