Start here for a quick understanding of politics

and advocating for the world’s poor

 

What you’ll learn:

• Which political leaders to focus on.
• Who your leaders are and how to contact them.
• How a bill becomes a law
• How to influence your leaders.
• Helpful information.

 

1. What politicians should I focus on? In the context of the German Parliament, you should primarily focus on the leaders who represent your specific area. This includes your Mitglied des Bundestages (MdB) in the Bundestag, and your Mitglieder des Bundesrates (MdBR) in the Bundesrat. These leaders have the power to influence policy decisions, allocate funding, and pass legislation. While the role of the Chancellor, President, and government is significant, engaging with your local leaders allows you to directly impact the legislative process and advocate for specific issues related to poverty reduction.

2. Who are my leaders and how can I contact them? To find your member of the Bundestag and members of the Bundesrat, you can visit the official Bundestag and Bundesrat websites or use online tools that provide information based on your postcode. These resources will help you identify the Mitglied des Bundestages representing your constituency, and the Mitglieder des Bundesrates representing your state. Once you have their names, you can easily locate their contact information. For members of the Bundestag, their contact information is usually on their own, separate website, while members of the Bundesrat have their contact information directly on their Bundesrat profile.

3. How does a bill become a law? This video explains how a Bill becomes a Law. However, we have also written a detailed explanation below:

• • Introduction: Bills can be introduced by members in either the Bundestag or the Bundesrat, though most are actually drawn up by the executive body/Federal Government and then sent to Parliament. As it is the most common, this breakdown will go through the process of if it was first drawn up by the Federal Government and just sent to Parliament.
  • Bundesrat: For these bills introduced by the Federal Government, the bill must first go through the Bundesrat. The Bundesrat then has up to six weeks to deliver its comments back to the Federal Government. The Federal Government may respond to the Bundesrat’s comments in writing. After the Federal Government receives the bill back from the Bundesrat, it is passed along, with the Bundesrat’s comments, to the Bundestag.
  • Agenda: Once received in the Bundestag, the bill must be put on the agenda for discussion. Copies of the bill must be received by every member.
  • First reading: During the first reading, members theoretically may debate on the content of the bill. However, this typically only happens if the bill is particularly controversial or if there is a lot of public interest. More typically, it is just read through and then a committee (or multiple committees) are designated to review it in depth
  • Committee: The actual detailed work on the bill is done through committee. Committee members review the bill more in depth, deliberate on it, and make proposals for amendments or revisions. After the committee finishes deliberating and are happy with what they have come to, the committee creates a report on how its deliberations went, the results of their deliberations, and their recommendations for the bill.
  • Working groups: At the same time as the committee is working on the bill, the individual parliamentary groups will form their own informal working groups. The working groups examine the issue presented in the bill more in depth, to come to a conclusion on their parliamentary group’s position on the bill.
  • Recommendations: Before the second reading, all members receive a final copy of the committee’s recommendations. Based on those recommendations, the parliamentary groups solidify and coordinate their positions on the bill ahead of the second reading, as to present a united front.
  • Second reading: Once the second reading commences, the entire Bundestag debates on the bill. This may be a long session. Each provision of the bill may be set out individually and considered in depth. Any individual member of the Bundestag may propose an amendment to the bill, which is then voted on. If amendments are adopted, then a new version of the bill has to be printed and distributed. If no amendments are made (or no further amendments are made), the bill can make its way to the third reading, even sometimes on the same day.
  • Third reading: Although a debate is technically allowed at this stage, it only ends up held if explicitly requested by a parliamentary group or by, at minimum, 5% of the Bundestag. Amendments can no longer be made by any individual member, motioning for an amendment can only be done by a parliamentary group or by, at minimum, 5% of the Bundestag. The final vote then takes place at the end of the third reading, and members can vote either in favor, against, or abstain. If the necessary majority votes in favor (different bills require different majority thresholds), it then goes back to the Bundesrat, now as an act.
  • Bundesrat Consent: The members of the Bundesrat also, once again, read and deliberate on the act. They cannot make amendments, but can exercise their right to not give its consent. What then happens often depends on the type of bill it is. For certain acts, especially bills related to public finances or bills that directly affect the states, the Bundesrat must consent and the act cannot be pushed through. However, for others, the Bundesrat may object, but the Bundestag can override the objection under certain majority rules.
  • Mediation Committee: If there is disagreement between the Bundestag and Bundesrat, a mediation committee may be formed. These involve 16 members from the Bundestag, and 16 members from the Bundesrat. The Mediation Committee makes the necessary proposals to resolve the difference of opinions. The act could go back to the Bundestag, and request that the Bundestag amends the bill, before then sending it again to the Bundesrat. It could equally happen that the proposal ends up being to not pass the bill. But, to move forward, we will assume that the Bundestag has passed it and the Bundesrat has consented. The approved bill then goes back to the Federal Government.
  • Federal Government: The bill is first printed and sent to the Chancellor and the relevant federal minister, who sign the bill. It then heads to the President, who reviews it to make sure that it is constitutional and does not violate basic law before promulgating it.
  • Bundesgesetzblatt: The signed law is published in the Federal Law Gazette (Bundesgesetzblatt). Typically, a law has written in it the time period for when it will take effect. If no time period is specified, it takes effect on the 14th day after publication.

4. How long does it take for a bill to pass? The legislative process can vary in duration. Bills can be introduced and passed within a relatively short period, while others may take several months or even years to become law. It depends on the complexity of the bill, political considerations, and the level of support it receives from Members of Parliament.

5. Gaining Support? In the context of the German Parliament, the term „cosponsor” is not commonly used. However, throughout the entire legislative process, members of Parliament can support or endorse specific bills by expressing their agreement, adding their signature, or voting in favor of the proposed legislation. The support of members is crucial in pushing for bills to be scheduled for debates, votes, and potential passage into law. Advocacy efforts often involve urging MPs to support and champion key poverty-reduction bills in order to generate momentum and secure parliamentary action.

6. Know your leaders. It’s important to keep up to date with your leaders, their daily activities, and the daily activities of Parliament. We recommend bookmarking and downloading Abgeordnetenwatch.

7. Is my leader on a key Committee or Target Group? Engaging every Member of Parliament is important, but engaging with Members of Parliament in key positions is crucial for advancing poverty-reduction initiatives. If your leaders serve on the following committees or groups, it is important to mobilize support and contact them to express your advocacy for poverty-related legislation.

• • Deutscher Bundestag Auswärtiger Ausschuss: Members of the Bundestag on this committee handle many bills related to global poverty reduction and play a significant role in advancing them through the legislative process.
  • Deutscher Bundestag Haushaltsausschuss: Members of the Bundestag on this committee determine the budget for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
  • Ausschuss für auswärtige Angelegenheiten des Bundesrates: Members of the Bundesrat on this committee handle many bills related to global poverty reduction and play a significant role in advancing them through the legislative process.
  • Finanzausschuss des Bundesrates: Members of the Bundesrat on this committee determine allocation of funding for government programs and agencies, including those addressing poverty.
  • Party Leadership: MPs in leadership positions have significant influence over parliamentary decisions, including the scheduling and prioritization of bills.
  • Caucuses, Associations, or Groups: Some MPs may be part of caucuses, associations, or groups that focus on poverty-related issues. Identifying these MPs and engaging with them can be instrumental in gaining support for poverty-reduction bills.

8. Are you a ‘Dual Constituent’? Okay so we totally just made up the term ‘Dual Constituent,’ but we’re trying to find a way to describe people with ties to multiple constituencies, such as studying in a different area than where you grew up or where you live with your parents outside of the school year, it is essential to leverage this opportunity. As a ‘Dual Constituent,’ you can maximize your impact by contacting and engaging with leaders from all the constituencies to which you have connections.

9. How can I influence my leaders to support legislation that improves living conditions for millions of people? You’ve come to the right place! Here are the key ways to make an impact:

• • Email and call your leaders to express support for key bills. Even a few seconds of your time can bring important issues to their attention.
  • Mobilize others to contact Parliament. Encourage friends, family, and community members to join in advocating for poverty-reduction legislation. The more people who express support, the stronger the message becomes.
  • Engage in lobbying efforts. You don’t have to be an expert to meet with your elected officials. Communicate your passion for addressing global poverty and highlight key points about the legislation you’re advocating for. Sending a thank-you email after the meeting is an opportunity to reinforce important information.
  • Utilize social media platforms. Members and their staff often monitor social media for constituent concerns and support. Tweeting or posting on Facebook about poverty-related issues can help raise awareness and gain attention from your leaders.
  • Remember, your individual efforts, multiplied by the engagement of others, can make a significant difference in influencing your leaders to support legislation that improves the lives of millions of people affected by poverty.

Parliament in a Nutshell

 

 

 

 

 

• The German Parliament consists of two chambers: the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
• There are a total of 630 members in the Bundestag and 69 members in the Bundesrat.
• Members of the Bundestag are directly elected by citizens, using mixed-member proportional representation, and serve four-year terms, though the President can dissolve the Bundestag and call for earlier elections (but calling for an earlier election is uncommon).
• Members of the Bundesrat do not have fixed terms, as members change based on state-level elections. Members of the Bundesrat are not directly elected by citizens, but instead are delegated by their respective state’s governments.
• Due to the mixed-member proportional representation method, each Bundestag constituency may be represented from between one and three members. One from directly winning the electorate’s vote, and up to two others elected from their party’s list. If your constituency has more than one MdB, you can choose which to advocate to, but we typically recommend the member who won the electorate’s vote.
• Each state is represented by between three and six members of the Bundesrat.
• When it comes to advocacy, members are primarily interested in hearing from their own constituents, the people living in their respective constituencies and states.
• If you send an advocacy email to a leader who does not represent where you live, it may be ignored or redirected to your own leader.
• To effectively engage with your leaders, it is crucial to direct your advocacy efforts towards the leaders who specifically represent where you live.