Duties

The power of the Federal Government is personified in the Chancellor. This strong position is fortified by the Basic Law: Pursuant to Article 64 of the Basic Law (BL), the Chancellor has the right to form the Federal Cabinet. She proposes her candidates for the ministerial offices, and thus her Federal Cabinet, to the Federal President. The dismissal of a Minister follows the same procedure.

Under Article 65 BL, the Chancellor sets the guidelines for government policy and bears responsibility for them. This guideline competency comprehends providing a framework for government policies that the individual Ministries further develop in content. Within the guidelines provided by the Chancellor, each Minister individually manages his field of business for which he accepts full responsibility (departmental principle).

The Chancellor manages the affairs of the Federal Government, pursuant to the Federal Government Rules of Procedure as adopted by the Federal Cabinet and approved by the Federal President. She bears the governmental responsibility towards the German Bundestag.

Governments often consist of coalitions that are forged by two or more parties in order to attain the majority in the Bundestag. Within this governing coalition, the Chancellor is to abide by the agreements made with her coalition partners if she does not want to unnecessarily burden the coalition.

Furthermore, the Chancellor chairs the Federal Cabinet and leads the Cabinet sessions.

The Chancellor also decides who are to represent her (Article 69 BL). This office is assumed by one of the Federal Ministers, usually the Minister for Foreign Affairs. In a coalition government, a party member of the coalition partner is normally appointed.

Should the state of defence arise, the Chancellor executes the supreme command over the armed forces (Article 115b BL).

The Chancellor may assure herself of the support of the German Bundestag by calling for a vote of confidence. Should her call not meet with majority approval by the members of the Bundestag, the Chancellor may execute her right to propose to the Federal President that the Bundestag be dissolved. However, this right expires if a Bundestag majority elects a new Chancellor.