Germany
2026
- GOVERNMENT
- federal parliamentary republic
- CONSTITUTION
- May 23, 1949, became the constitution of unified Germany on October 3, 1990; amended several times, last in 2020
- LEGAL SYSTEM
- civil law; recognizes ICJ jurisdiction as mandatory with reservations
- LEGISLATIVE SYSTEM
- bicameral Parliament (Parlament), Federal Assembly (Bundestag) and Federal Council (Bundesrat)
- JUDICIAL SYSTEM
- Federal Court of Justice (the court is composed of 127 judges, including the court president, vice presidents, presiding judges, other judges and organized into 25 senates divided into 12 civil chambers, 5 criminal chambers, and 8 special chambers); Federal Constitutional Court or Bundesverfassungsgericht (composed of 2 senates each divided into 3 chambers, each with a president and 8 members); Federal Administrative Court; Federal Finance Court; Federal Labor Court; Federal Social Court; each of the 16 federal states or Länder has its own constitutional court and a hierarchy of ordinary (civil, criminal, family) and specialized (administrative, financial, labor, social) courts; two English-speaking commercial courts were opened at the end of 2020 in the state of Baden-Wuerttemberg: the English-speaking commercial court in Stuttgart and the English-speaking commercial court in Mannheim
RELIGIONS
Roman Catholic 26%, Protestant 23.7%, Muslim 3.6%, other 4.8%, none 41.9% (estimate 2021)
From the country
- JANUARY 1, 2019GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- JULY 12, 2018GermanyDEATH PENALTY
USA - A German medical company is suspected of illegally shipping pentobarbital
USA - A German medical company is suspected of illegally shipping pentobarbital
- JANUARY 1, 2018GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- MAY 9, 2017GermanyDEATH PENALTY
MERKEL ANNOUNCES THAT TURKS IN GERMANY 'FORBIDDEN' TO VOTE ON DEATH PENALTY
German Chancellor Angela Merkel said that Turks living in Germany won’t be allowed to vote in a possible referendum on restoring the death penalty in Turkey.
- JANUARY 1, 2017GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- JANUARY 1, 2016GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- JANUARY 1, 2015GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
- AUGUST 21, 2014ChinaDEATH PENALTY
CHINA: GERMAN SENTENCED TO DEATH FOR MURDER IN XIAMEN
a German was sentenced to death in China for the first time in modern history. The 36-year-old man was convicted of a double murder in Xiamen in 2010. Germany has vowed to stop the execution.
- JULY 23, 2014GermanyDEATH PENALTY
USA - German Officials Refuse to Cooperate in Possible Death Penalty Case.
USA - German Officials Refuse to Cooperate in Possible Death Penalty Case.
- JANUARY 1, 2014GermanyDEATH PENALTY
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
The Federal Republic of Germany abolished the death penalty in 1949.
SEPTEMBER 13, 2013GermanyDEATH PENALTYMALAYSIA: HIGH COURT SENTENCES GERMAN TO DEATH FOR DRUGS
In Malaysia, a high court outside the capital Kuala Lumpur found Bebou Akpo
- JANUARY 25, 2013GermanyDEATH PENALTY
GERMANY: BUNDESBANK LIMITS CHINA COOPERATION ON DEATH PENALTY
Germany’s Bundesbank said it will exclude Chinese and Vietnamese central bank officials