Der Bundesrat in der Parteiendemokratie

In Germany, the Bundesrat (Federal Council) embodies the tension between parliamentary competition and federal negotiation in a special way. However, its structures and procedures are often considered to be opaque and incomprehensible. Moreover, the Federal Government’s lack of a political majority in the Bundesrat often furthers public concern about the institution’s potential to block legislation out of party political motives. In fact, the Bundesrat’s decision-making procedures are characterised by the interlocking of formal administrative and informal political coordination structures, which are overshadowed by the structures and laws of the parties that act within the institution. Despite partially opposing majorities in the Bundestag and the Bundesrat, only very little legislation finally failed due to the Bundesrat refusing to consent to it during the 17th and 18th parliamentary terms from 2009 to 2017.