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Structures and competences

Local level :
11,313 municipalities (Gemeinden) of which 2 060 are cities (Städte)

There are two types of local structures in Germany, depending on the region’s municipal code (Gemeindeordnung): the magistrate system (Magistratsverfassung) and the council system (Süddeutsche Ratsverfassung).

The council system (Süddeutsche Ratsverfassung) exists in all German regions except for Hessen. According to the council system, the local council is elected by direct universal suffrage for five years. The mayor (Bürgermeister) is also elected by direct universal suffrage for a mandate that can vary from four to nine years, which also applies to Hessen. The mayor chairs the local council and heads the municipal administration.

The local council (Gemeinderat) is the municipality’s central body. It is elected by direct universal suffrage for a mandate that can vary from four to six years. The local council is the legislative organ and makes most of the decisions, whilst at the same time having a monitoring and controlling function vis-à-vis the mayor and local administration.

The magistrate system (Magistratsverfassung) only exists in one region (Hessen). In this system, the executive branch is composed of the mayor and his/her deputies (Magistrate). These are civil servants appointed by the local council for a mandate that generally lasts four years. The magistrate represents the municipality, is in charge of the daily local administration and implements local council decisions.

COMPETENCES*

  • Urban planning
  • Municipal taxation
  • Public security and order
  • Municipal roads
  • Public transport
  • Water supply and waste water management
  • Flood control and management
  • Fire fighting
  • Social aid and youth
  • Child care
  • Housing
  • Building and maintenance of schools
  • Cemeteries

*The mentioned competences are examples of the mandatory competences of local governements in Germany. There also exist a number of optional competences, notably in the fields of energy, economic development, infrastructure, culture, sports, migration and integration.

Intermediate level :
295 counties (Kreise)

The county assembly (Kreistag) is composed of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a mandate that can vary from four to six years, depending on the region. It is the county’s legislative body.

The county president (Landrat) is elected either by the county assembly or by direct universal suffrage, depending on the region. He/she is a civil servant elected for a period that varies from five to eight years and chairs the county assembly.

The county office (Landratsamt) is the county’s executive body and is composed of civil servants recruited by the county or by the region.

COMPETENCES*

  • Construction and maintenance of intermediary roads
  • Social services and youth
  • Collection and disposal of household waste
  • Health care
  • Food safety
  • Protection of nature and environment
  • Foreign affairs
  • Disaster management
  • Public transport

*The mentioned competences are examples of the mandatory competences of county authorities. There also exist a number of optional competences, notably in the fields of culture, economy, tourism, as well as building and managing libraries.

Regional level :
16 regions (Länder)

The parliament (Landtag) is the region’s legislative body. It consists of members elected by direct universal suffrage for a four-year mandate. It elects the minister-president of the region.

The government (Landesregierung) is the executive body of the region. It is elected by the parliament for a fouryear mandate. It elects the ministerpresident.

The minister-president (Ministerpräsident) chairs the government. He/she has the exclusive power to designate and dismiss the ministers of the region.

This differs for the three city-states Berlin, Bremen and Hamburg, where the house of representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) or citizens’assembly (Bürgerschaft) is the legislative, the senate of the city (Senat) is the executive and the mayor (Bürgermeister) is the governing chair.

Regional competences are shared with the central government in the fields of justice, social policy, civil law, criminal law and labour law.

COMPETENCES

  • Legislation
  • Public administration
  • Police
  • Homeland security
  • Taxation
  • Justice
  • Culture
  • University education
  • Education
  • Environment
  • Legal supervision of local self-government
See:
HISTORY
REFORMS
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