the Reichtag or Parliment Building

When the German Empire replaced the German Confederation in 1871, the Reichstag or German Parliament was established in Berlin. A few years later the Parliament building itself was built. One can say this was the birth of German democracy. Women were even given the vote and serve in the German Parliament in 1919. Furthermore, The Parliament could force the chancellor to resign by a no-confidence vote, resulting in new elections.

Many people believe Adolf Hitler circumvented this process with a destructive fire in the Reichtag building that was blamed on communists. Within a month after the Reichtag fire, the German Parliment gave all of its powers to the then Federal Government Chancellor Adolf Hitler passing a new law, the Enabling Act of 1933.

Germany's Parliament

Election of Members of the German Bundestag

As a rule, the people decide the composition of the Bundestag every four years. The Basic Law stipulates that its Members be elected in "general, direct, free, equal and secret elections".

"General" means that all German citizens are able to vote once they have reached the age of 18. The elections are "direct" because citizens vote for their representatives directly without the mediation of delegates to an electoral college. "Free" means that no pressure of any kind may be exerted on voters.

"Equal" means that each vote cast carries the same weight with respect to the composition of the Bundestag. "Secret" means that each individual must be able to exercise his or her right to vote in such a way that others cannot ascertain which party he or she has chosen to support.

The German Bundestag is elected by the German people and is the forum where differing opinions about the policies the country should be pursuing are formulated and discussed.

The most important tasks performed by the Bundestag are the legislative process and the parliamentary scrutiny of the government and its work.

The Members of the German Bundestag also decide on the federal budget and deployments of the Bundeswehr (Federal Armed Forces) outside Germany.

Another important function performed by the Bundestag is the election of the German Federal Chancellor.

The legislative process

In Germany, the legislative process is a task for the country’s parliaments. The Bundestag is therefore the most important organ of the legislative branch in the German Federation. Since, under Germany’s federal system, the Länder hold a considerable share of the powers of the state, the Bundesrat, the organ through which the Länder participate in the legislation and administration of the Federation, is also involved in the legislative process.

Source http://www.bundestag.de/htdocs_e/bundestag/elections/electionresults/election_mp.html