Fragen 91 bis 120

Because the Bundesrat consists of state governments, a state election can shift majorities there and block the federal government on laws requiring consent. The Bundestag (a) is not changed by state elections, new parties in the Bundesrat (b) are not a separate factor, and a state's wealth (d) does not affect its number of votes.

CSU stands for Christian Social Union; it is the sister party of the CDU and stands for election only in Bavaria. The variants a to c are invented and are not party names.

The second vote is cast for a party's state list and determines its share of seats in the Bundestag. Direct mandates are decided by the first vote (a, b), and the number of seats has nothing to do with the risk of having to form a coalition (c).

In Bundestag elections one may vote from the age of 18 (Art. 38(2) GG, § 12 of the Federal Electoral Act). Age 16 (a) applies only in some state and local elections, and 21 (c) and 23 (d) are not age limits for federal elections.

School attendance is compulsory in Germany: children must attend school from a certain age, usually for nine or ten years. There is no compulsory voting (a), the duty of confidentiality (c) applies to certain professions, and compulsory religion (d) would contradict freedom of religion under Art. 4 GG.

Denying the Holocaust is a criminal offence under § 130(3) of the Criminal Code (incitement to hatred) and is punishable with imprisonment of up to five years or a fine. Cutting social benefits (a) or community service hours (b) are not penalties for this offence, and impunity (c) contradicts the law.

In permanent employment, social insurance contributions are deducted directly from wages and paid to the funds by the employer. Social assistance (b) and housing benefit (d) are state benefits for people in need, and child benefit (c) is paid by the state to parents.

The government depends on a majority in the Bundestag; a change of parliamentary group can shift that majority and weaken the government. Members keep their mandate and may continue to take part in sittings (a), the Federal President's consent (c) is not required, and a fresh vote by the electorate (d) is not provided for.

Social insurance contributions are in principle paid half by employers and half by employees. Neither side alone (b, d) bears them, and all nationals (c) pay only if they are employed and insured.

Statutory social insurance comprises health, pension, unemployment, long-term care and accident insurance. Life insurance (a) is private provision and not a statutory compulsory insurance, whereas pension (b), unemployment (c) and long-term care insurance (d) are part of it.

Trade unions represent the interests of employees, for example on pay and working conditions; the basis for this is freedom of association under Article 9(3) of the Basic Law. Young people and pensioners do not have separate interest organisations of this kind, and employers are represented by employers' associations.

The Federal Cross of Merit is the Order of Merit of the Federal Republic of Germany and is awarded for special achievements in these fields. The Federal Eagle is the national coat of arms and not an award; the "Patriotic Order of Merit" and the title "Hero of the GDR" were awards of the GDR.

In a traffic-light coalition, the SPD (red), FDP (yellow) and Alliance 90/The Greens (green) govern together; the colours are reminiscent of a traffic light. The CDU and CSU together form the Union, the CDU and SPD govern in a grand coalition, and the combination of CSU, The Left and the Greens does not exist in this form.

Pregnant women enjoy special protection against dismissal: if the employer knows about the pregnancy, dismissal is generally inadmissible under Section 17 of the Maternity Protection Act. Long illness with incapacity for work, frequent lateness and private activities during working hours can, by contrast, justify dismissal.

Election helpers form the electoral board and count the votes after the polling station closes. In the voting booth each person decides alone, the municipality sends out the voting notifications, and interim results may not be passed on to the media.

Volunteer election helpers are part of the electoral board and count the votes cast after the election has ended. Children may not vote, the voting notifications come from the municipality, and interim results are not passed on to journalists by individual helpers.

Under Article 39(1) of the Basic Law, the Bundestag is elected for four years. Two, six and eight years do not correspond to the Bundestag's electoral term.

Under Article 38(2) of the Basic Law and Section 12 of the Federal Electoral Act, all Germans who have reached the age of 18 are entitled to vote in the Bundestag election. Residence alone, a particular length of stay or a minimum age of 21 is not enough.

The Bundestag is normally elected every four years (Article 39(1) of the Basic Law); the electoral term can be shortened only in exceptional cases. Three, five or six years are not regular intervals between elections.

Under Article 39(1) of the Basic Law, the Bundestag's electoral term is four years. The figures two, three and five years are wrong.

Publicly calling for the destruction of Israel is incitement of the people and is punishable under Section 130 of the Criminal Code. Criticism of Israeli policy, discussions about it and hanging an Israeli flag on one's own property are protected by freedom of expression and assembly.

Under Article 38(1) of the Basic Law, elections are general, direct, free, equal and secret; no one may learn how a person voted. "Special", "profession-related" and "gender-dependent" do not describe German electoral law.

Elections are decided by a majority of votes: the party with the most votes obtains the most seats and can form the government. Gender, profession or the number of first votes for a candidate for chancellor do not decide the election.

Taking part in elections is a right, not an obligation; there is no compulsory voting in Germany. That is why "obligation", "compulsion" and "burden" are wrong.

Active voting rights are the right to vote; passive voting rights are the right to be elected. There is no obligation to vote, and no one has to go to the counting of the votes.

Anyone who is allowed to vote in the Bundestag election has active voting rights. Election campaign, electioneering and election procedure, by contrast, are not names for this right.

Under Section 4(2) of the Federal Electoral Act, a party needs at least 5 per cent of the second votes to enter the Bundestag. Three, four or six per cent are not enough.

The Makkabi sports clubs are open to all people; Jewish origin, a particular nationality or a religion is not required for membership. The restrictions to Germans, Israelis or religious people are therefore wrong.

Free means that no one is forced to vote and every person decides for themselves to whom they give their vote (Article 38(1) of the Basic Law). Not all convicted criminals are excluded from voting, elections take place on a Sunday, and one cannot freely choose the location of the polling station.

Germany combines majority voting (first vote in the constituency) with proportional representation (second vote via the Land list). Census suffrage, the three-class franchise and pure male suffrage belong to the past and do not apply.