President of the Bundestag

President of the Bundestag
Post	President of the Bundestag
Body	the German Bundestag
Native name	Präsident des Deutschen Bundestages
Insigniacaption	Logo of the German Bundestag
Flagcaption	Flag of Germany
Incumbent	Bärbel Bas
Incumbentsince	26 October 2021
Department	Presidium of the German Bundestag
Style	Mr. President / Madam President
Member of	Presidium of the German Bundestag
Seat	Reichstag building, Berlin
Nominator	Parliamentary groups
Appointer	German Bundestag
Termlength	Coincides with the legislative period of the Bundestag
Constituting instrument	Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany
Formation	7 September 1949
First	Erich Köhler
Website	[https://www.bundestag.de/en Bundestag.de]

President of the Bundestag is the presiding officer of the German Bundestag, the federal parliament of the Federal Republic of Germany. Elected by the members of the Bundestag, the President is responsible for representing the parliament, chairing its plenary sessions, and upholding its rights and dignity. The position is the highest-ranking official in the German order of precedence after the Federal President and the President of the Bundesrat, signifying its central constitutional role.

Role and responsibilities

The President of the Bundestag presides over the plenary sittings in the Reichstag building, ensuring adherence to the Rules of Procedure and maintaining order during debates. They represent the Bundestag in all legal and ceremonial matters, including in dealings with the Federal Constitutional Court, the Federal Government, and foreign parliaments like the French National Assembly or the United States Congress. The President also exercises domestic police power and disciplinary authority within the parliamentary precincts, overseeing the Bundestag Police. Furthermore, they chair the Council of Elders, a key body that plans the legislative agenda and manages internal parliamentary affairs.

Election and term of office

The President is elected by the Bundestag in a secret ballot, typically during the constituent session following a federal election. According to tradition rooted in the Weimar Constitution, the candidate from the largest parliamentary group, often the SPD or the CDU/CSU, is elected. The term of office coincides with the four-year legislative period of the Bundestag, though the President can be re-elected any number of times. The election is governed by the Basic Law and the Bundestag's standing orders, with the oldest member, the Alterspräsident, presiding over the initial session until the election is concluded.

History and development

The office was established with the first session of the Bundestag in Bonn on 7 September 1949, with Erich Köhler of the CDU/CSU becoming the first President. Its role and prestige were shaped in contrast to the powerful presidency of the Reichstag under the Weimar Republic and the marginalization of parliament during the Nazi era. A significant evolution occurred after German reunification in 1990 and the subsequent move of parliament from Bonn to the renovated Reichstag building in Berlin in 1999, which enhanced the office's public visibility. The tenure of Rita Süssmuth during the chancellorship of Helmut Kohl and the Kohl government exemplified the President's role as an independent constitutional actor.

List of Presidents of the Bundestag

Since 1949, thirteen individuals have served as President, with several serving multiple terms. The longest-serving President was Rita Süssmuth, who held the office from 1988 to 1998. Other notable Presidents include Eugen Gerstenmaier, a prominent figure in the German Resistance who served for over a decade, and Norbert Lammert, who presided during the Chancellorship of Angela Merkel. The current President, Bärbel Bas of the SPD, was elected in 2021 following the federal election that led to the Scholz cabinet. The list reflects the political balance in the Bundestag, with the office alternating primarily between the SPD and the CDU/CSU.

Deputy Presidents and Presidium

The President is assisted by a number of Deputy Presidents, who together form the Presidium of the German Bundestag. The number of Deputy Presidents is determined by the Bundestag's rules, and they are nominated by the various parliamentary groups in proportion to their size, a practice ensuring broad representation. The Presidium is responsible for the Bundestag's administrative and budgetary affairs, overseeing the administration led by the Director of the Bundestag. It works closely with the Council of Elders on parliamentary organization. Historically, figures like Hermann Ehlers and Annemarie Renger have served as influential Deputy Presidents.

Official seat and protocol

The official seat and workplace of the President is the Reichstag building in Berlin, a symbol of German democracy famously adorned with the Reichstag dome designed by Norman Foster. The President's office and the plenary chamber are located within this historic building, which also houses the Bundestag's parliamentary groups. In the German order of precedence, the President ranks third, following the Federal President and the President of the Bundesrat. The President receives foreign dignitaries and heads of state, such as the President of France or the President of the United States, and represents the Bundestag at state ceremonies, including the annual German Unity Day celebrations.

Category:Presidents of the German Bundestag Category:German parliamentary speakers Category:Government of Germany