Politische Führung im Fraktionenparlament

This study is the first to systematically examine the leaders of the parliamentary party factions in the German Bundestag. Relying on interviews with office holders, further members of the executive boards and backbenchers, it firstly highlights their challenging and complex role within parliamentary democracy. Secondly, it discloses the multifaceted steering capacities party group leaders have at their disposal, and how they can be used during decision-making processes. Overall, the investigation demonstrates the office holders’ pivotal role in democratic and well-functioning party groups. In addition, it shows how important they are for the parliament as a whole, since the party group leaders substantially contribute to the functioning of the institution that functionally and symbolically resides at the heart of representative democracy.