Duitsland Gouvernement Profiel 2008

Hoofdstad

name: Berlin
geographic coordinates: 52 31 N, 13 24 E
time difference: UTC+1 (6 hours ahead of Washington, DC during Standard Time)
daylight saving time: +1hr, begins last Sunday in March; ends last Sunday in October

Onafhankelijkheid dag

18 Januari 1871 (German Empire unification); divided into four zones of occupation (UK, US, USSR, and later, France) in 1945 following World War II; Federal Republic of Germany (FRG or West Germany) proclaimed 23 Mei 1949 and included the former UK, US, and French zones; German Democratic Republic (GDR or East Germany) proclaimed 7 Oktober 1949 and included the former USSR zone; unification of West Germany and East Germany took place 3 Oktober 1990; all four powers formally relinquished rights 15 Maart 1991

Nationale feestdag

Unity Day, 3 Oktober (1990)

Grondwet

23 Mei 1949, known as Basic Law; became constitution of the united Germany 3 Oktober 1990

Stemmen

18 jaar; universal

uitvoerende macht

chief of state: President Horst KOEHLER (since 1 July 2004)
head of government: Chancellor Angela MERKEL (since 22 November 2005)
cabinet: Cabinet or Bundesminister (Federal Ministers) appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor
elections: president elected for a five-year term (eligible for a second term) by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Assembly and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments; election last held 23 May 2004 (next scheduled for 23 May 2009); chancellor elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term; Bundestag vote for Chancellor last held 22 November 2005 (next will follow the national elections to be held by autumn 2009)
election results: Horst KOEHLER elected president; received 604 votes of the Federal Convention against 589 for Gesine SCHWAN; Angela MERKEL elected chancellor; vote by Federal Assembly 397 to 202 with 12 abstentions