Senate of Berlin

Senate of Berlin
source
Cabinet name	Senate of Berlin
Cabinet type	State government
Jurisdiction	Berlin
Caption	The Rotes Rathaus, seat of the Senate
Date formed	1951
Government head title	Governing Mayor
Government head	Kai Wegner
Current number	10
Political party	CDU, SPD
Legislature status	Coalition government
Election	2023 state election
Previous	Senate Giffey
State	Berlin

Senate of Berlin. The Senate of Berlin is the executive body governing the German federal state of Berlin, functioning as both a city-state and a Bundesland. It is led by the Governing Mayor and comprises up to ten senators heading individual administrative departments. The Senate operates from the historic Rotes Rathaus and exercises authority over the entire city, including its twelve boroughs.

History

The modern Senate was established in 1951 for West Berlin, replacing the earlier Magistrate of Berlin system, as the city was politically divided following World War II. During the Cold War, the Senate governed the Allied-sector, with its authority contested by the Eastern sector's SED leadership. Key historical Senates include those led by Willy Brandt, who later became Chancellor of Germany, and Richard von Weizsäcker, who later served as President of Germany. Following German reunification in 1990, the first all-Berlin government was formed, merging the administrations of East Berlin and West Berlin. The Senate's history is marked by coalitions between major parties like the SPD and the CDU, as well as periods involving the FDP and Alliance 90/The Greens.

Composition and election

The Senate is composed of the Governing Mayor and the senators, who are appointed by the Governing Mayor following the state election to the Abgeordnetenhaus of Berlin. The Governing Mayor is elected by the Abgeordnetenhaus, requiring an absolute majority in the first or second ballot, or a plurality in a third. Senators are typically, though not exclusively, members of the state parliament and head specific Senate Departments, such as for Finance, Interior, or Urban Development. The number of senators is limited to ten, excluding the Governing Mayor, and the body's composition reflects the coalition agreements of the ruling parties, which have included the SPD, CDU, Alliance 90/The Greens, and The Left.

Powers and responsibilities

As the state government, the Senate holds extensive executive power, directing the state police, overseeing public broadcasting via Rundfunk Berlin-Brandenburg, and managing major cultural institutions like the Berlin State Museums and the Berliner Philharmoniker. It is responsible for state education policy, public transport through the Berliner Verkehrsbetriebe, and urban planning, including major projects like the Berlin Brandenburg Airport and the redevelopment of the Museum Island. The Senate represents Berlin in the Bundesrat and negotiates with the federal government on matters such as the annual financial equalization payments. It also enacts police and public order decrees and administers state-owned companies like the Berliner Wasserbetriebe.

Current Senate

The current Senate, known as the Senate Wegner, was sworn in on April 27, 2023, following the 2023 Berlin state election. It is a coalition government between the CDU and the SPD, led by Governing Mayor Kai Wegner of the CDU. Key senators include Iris Spranger of the SPD heading the Senate Department for the Interior, Digitalization and Sport, and Stefan Evers of the CDU leading the Senate Department for Finance. This coalition succeeded the previous Senate Giffey, which was a SPD-Green-Left coalition. Major policy focuses include the housing crisis, climate protection, and infrastructure modernization.

List of Senates

Since 1951, Berlin has been governed by numerous Senates, typically named after their respective Governing Mayors. Notable Senates include the Senate Brandt (1957-1966), the Senate Diepgen (1991-2001), and the long-serving Senate Wowereit (2001-2014). The first Senate after reunification was the Senate Momper, a SPD-Alternative List coalition. Other historically significant administrations include the Senate Schütz during the Wall era and the Senate Müller, which governed during the COVID-19 pandemic. The Abgeordnetenhaus provides a complete chronological listing of all Senates and their governing coalitions.

Category:Government of Berlin Category:State governments of Germany Category:1951 establishments in West Germany