The German Bundesrat is the federal upper house of the German parliament, representing the 16 federal states (Länder) of the Federal Republic of Germany. It functions as a legislative body with the power to participate in the enactment of federal legislation, particularly on matters that affect the interests of the Länder. Unlike the Bundestag, which is directly elected by the public, the Bundesrat is composed of members of the state governments, typically ministers or senators, and its members are appointed and recalled by the respective state governments.
The number of votes allocated to each state in the Bundesrat ranges from three to six, depending on population size, with more populous states receiving more votes. However, unlike proportional systems, this distribution does not scale linearly with population. States must cast their votes en bloc, meaning that each state delegation casts its votes as a single unit.
The Bundesrat convenes regularly in Berlin and must approve all legislation that affects the administrative or financial interests of the Länder. This includes laws related to taxation, education, policing, and administrative procedures. For such legislation, the consent (Zustimmung) of the Bundesrat is mandatory. Other legislation requires only the Bundesrat's consultation (Anhörung), meaning it can object but may be overruled by the Bundestag.
The presidency of the Bundesrat rotates annually among the heads of government of the 16 states, following a predetermined order based on population size.
The institution has existed in various forms since the foundation of the German Empire in 1871, although the current structure dates primarily from the adoption of the Basic Law (Grundgesetz) in 1949, which established the modern Federal Republic of Germany.