Facts - The Bundestag at a glance - Deutscher Bundestag

Through the Bundesrat, the 16 federal
states (Länder) play a part in national
legislation. Bills affecting the interests
of the Länder require the explicit
consent of the Bundesrat. In the case of
other bills, the Bundesrat may lodge an
objection to their adoption.
If the Bundestag and Bundesrat cannot
agree on a bill, they can refer the
matter to the Mediation Committee.
This committee, comprising 16 representatives
each from the Bundestag and
Bundesrat, tries to find a compromise.
The role of the Mediation Committee
can be particularly important when the
majority groups in one House are in the
minority in the other. If the Mediation
Committee arrives at a compromise, this
must be put to the vote in the Bundestag
and then in the Bundesrat before
the new act can enter into force.
The legislative process
1) In the event of immediate rejection,
the Bundestag or Bundesrat
may appeal.
2) Legislative decision confirmed or
no amendments proposed.
3) If the amendment proposal is
rejected, the bill proceeds in its
original form.
4) In the event of a proposal to drop
the bill, if the Bundestag agrees
the bill is defeated; otherwise it is
forwarded to the Bundesrat.
Sometimes differences of opinion
between the Bundestag and Bundesrat
prove irreconcilable. In the case of a
bill requiring the consent of the Bundesrat,
this signals the final defeat of the
proposal. In cases where the Bundesrat
only has the right of objection, however,
the Bundestag can overrule its objection.
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