General
The Federal Republic of Germany is a parliamentary Democracy. The Head of State is Federal President Christian Wulff (2010) and Head of Government is Federal Chancellor Angela Merkel (2005). Foreign Minister since October 2009 is Guido Westerwelle. The German Parliament consists of the Bundestag (Lower House) and Bundesrat (Upper House). The Bundestag comprises 614 members that are elected for a four-year term. Bundestag President is Dr. Norbert Lammert (CDU/CSU).
The German Bundesrat is the representation of the 16 federal states, comprising members of the federal state governments. The office of Bundesrat Praesident is held by one of the federal state’s Minister-Presidents (currently: Jens Boehrnsen), elected for a one year term.
The governing Parties of the Republic of Germany are the Christian Democratic Union (CDU) and Christian Social Union (CSU) with 239 seats and the Free Democratic Party with 93 seats.
The opposition consists of the Social Democratic Party of Germany (SPD) with 146 seats, the Left Party with 76 seats and the Alliance90/The Greens with 68 seats.
Source: www.diplo.de
