The five constitutional bodies of Germany are the Bundestag and Bundesrat with responsibility for legislation, the Federal Constitutional Court with responsibility for supreme court decisions, and the Federal President and the Federal Cabinet with responsibility for the executive.

Since July 1999, the chief of state has been President Johannes Rau. The president is elected for a five-year term by a Federal Convention, including all members of the Federal Assembly, and an equal number of delegates elected by the state parliaments. The last election was held May 23, 1999. The head of government is Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder who has been in office since October 27,1998. The chancellor is elected by an absolute majority of the Federal Assembly for a four-year term. The Cabinet, or Bundesminister, (Federal Ministers) is appointed by the president on the recommendation of the chancellor.

In the Legislative Branch, the bicameral Parliament or Parlament consists of the Federal Assembly or Bundestag (60

“As companies in Germany focus on business strategy for 2003 and beyond, Business Monitor International’s Germany Forecast Report re-evaluates political risk, the economic outlook and industry performance through end-2005. Divisions among the Western allies over weapons inspections in Iraq may have far-reaching ramifications for US relations. On the economic front, weak consumer demand, continued uncertainty over the outlook for the world economy, and geopolitical instability in the Middle East are likely to keep business investment subdued over 2003, despite the recent interest rate cut by the European Central Bank. The prospect of government spending restraint is likely to provide an additional obstacle to a recovery in domestic demand. And with the world economic recovery lacking pace, the impulse from net exports, which owes more to falling imports than growing exports, is unlikely to be strong going forward. Nevertheless, GDP growth should benefit in early 2003 by the rebuilding of stocks, which producers have been running down since 2001. In all, growth is expected to accelerate in 2003, though the risks are currently on the downside.” (Germany Quarterly Forecast Report)

After the Haupschule and Realschule is the Berufsschule, a combination of part-time academic study and apprenticeship. The successful completion of an apprenticeship program leads to certification in a particular trade or work. Students at the university level will usually attend six and a half years of additional schooling.

Religion plays a part in Germany. Most Germans are either Protestant or Roman Catholic, each compromising 34% of the population. Muslims take up 3.7% of the population, and the other 28.3% are either unaffiliated or another religion.

Germany has a social market economy. The government guarantees social security, a balanced distribution of private capital, and decent working conditions.

Children are required to attend at least ni

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