Facts - The Bundestag at a glance - Deutscher Bundestag

The Bundestag scrutinises the Government
One of the traditional functions of a
parliament in a democratic state is the
scrutiny of government. This role is
naturally performed first and foremost
by the opposition groups, which cannot
muster a parliamentary majority in the
Bundestag, although Members from the
groups in the governing coalition engage
in scrutiny too through their participation
in parliamentary processes. The
Federal Government is required to keep
the Bundestag regularly informed of its
plans and intentions. Among the key instruments
of scrutiny are the budgetary
powers of the Bundestag. In the annual
Budget Act, the Bundestag determines
the level of public revenue and expenditure,
for which the Federal Minister of
Finance is accountable to Parliament.
The budget debates are undoubtedly a
highlight of the parliamentary year. As
with all other debates in the plenary
chamber, government policy is under
scrutiny, and the Government must justify
its policies to Parliament.
The German Bundestag has a wide
range of instruments with which it can
scrutinise the work of the Government.
For example, individual Members can
submit written questions to the Government,
and government representatives