🗺️ BAMF topic area: Living in a democracy

German Citizenship Test: The State and Federalism — 50 questions

Federal government, states and municipalities: who is responsible for schools, police or foreign policy — and why Germany is a federal state at all. This block covers 50 of the 300 general questions, so on average about 5.0 of the 30 general questions in your exam will come from it.

What this block tests

This question is about federalism. Germany is made up of 16 Bundesländer (federal states), each with its own parliament, government and constitution. Learn the split and most of these questions answer themselves: education, schools, police and culture belong to the states; foreign policy, defence and currency belong to the federal government; nurseries, rubbish collection and local building plans belong to the municipality. The Bundesrat is the chamber through which the states take part in federal law-making.

All 50 questions on The State and Federalism

Open any question for the answer options, the reasoning, the key exam vocabulary, and the German wording used on exam day.

1. 6 What is the name of the German constitution?

   Correct: Basic Law (Grundgesetz)

2. 11 What is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany called?

   Correct: Basic Law (Grundgesetz)

3. 22 What form of government does Germany have?

   Correct: Republic

4. 24 How many federal states does the Federal Republic of Germany have?

   Correct: 16

5. 25 Which is NOT a federal state of the Federal Republic of Germany?

   Correct: Alsace-Lorraine

6. 26 Germany is …

   Correct: a democratic and social federal state.

7. 27 Germany is …

   Correct: a federal state.

8. 33 Which statement is correct? In Germany …

   Correct: state and religious communities are separate from each other.

9. 34 What is Germany NOT?

   Correct: a monarchy

10. 37 What are the heads of government of most German federal states called?

    Correct: Minister-President

11. 38 The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social …

    Correct: federal state.

12. 39 What does every German federal state have?

    Correct: its own government

13. 46 The German state has many tasks. Which task is among them?

    Correct: It builds roads and schools.

14. 47 The German state has many tasks. Which task is NOT among them?

    Correct: It pays for holidays for all citizens.

15. 48 Which body is NOT a constitutional organ of Germany?

    Correct: the citizens' assembly

16. 49 Who determines education policy in Germany?

    Correct: the federal states

17. 55 What does this image show?

    Correct: the Bundestag building in Berlin (Reichstag)

18. 56 Which office in Germany belongs to the municipal administration?

    Correct: Public order office

19. 58 Who appoints the ministers of the federal government in Germany?

    Correct: the Federal President

20. 60 In Germany, the Bundestag and the Bundesrat belong to the …

    Correct: Legislative.

21. 64 The Federal Republic of Germany is today divided into …

    Correct: federation, states, and municipalities.

22. 67 What is primarily a task of the federal states in Germany?

    Correct: Education policy

23. 69 The Federal Republic of Germany has a three-tier administrative structure. What is the lowest political level called?

    Correct: Municipalities

24. 70 German Federal President Gustav Heinemann hands Helmut Schmidt the certificate of appointment as German Chancellor in 1974. What is one of the duties of the German Federal President?

    Correct: He/She proposes the chancellor for election.

25. 71 Where does the German Chancellor spend most of their time? Most often they are …

    Correct: in Berlin, because the Chancellery and the Bundestag are located there.

26. 72 What is the name of the current Chancellor of Germany?

    Correct: Friedrich Merz

27. 75 What is the name of Germany's current head of state?

    Correct: Frank-Walter Steinmeier

28. 77 What is the Bundeswehr?

    Correct: the German army

29. 82 Who leads the German federal cabinet?

    Correct: the Chancellor

30. 84 What is the main task of the German Federal President? He/She …

    Correct: represents the country.

31. 85 Who makes up the German Bundesrat?

    Correct: the government representatives of the federal states

32. 87 Who is the head of state of the Federal Republic of Germany?

    Correct: the Federal President

33. 90 The German federal states participate in federal legislation through …

    Correct: the Bundesrat.

34. 91 In Germany, a change of government in a federal state can affect federal politics. Governing becomes …

    Correct: more difficult if the majority in the Bundesrat changes as a result.

35. 102 What honour can one receive in Germany for outstanding achievements in political, economic, cultural, intellectual or social fields? The …

    Correct: Federal Cross of Merit

36. 131 In Germany, a mayor is …

    Correct: the head of a municipality.

37. 212 What is Germany's full name?

    Correct: Federal Republic of Germany

38. 213 How many inhabitants does Germany have?

    Correct: 84 million

39. 221 Germany is a member of the Schengen Agreement. What does that mean?

    Correct: Germans can travel to many European countries without passport control.

40. 222 Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?

    Correct: Switzerland

41. 223 Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?

    Correct: Poland

42. 224 What does the abbreviation EU stand for?

    Correct: European Union

43. 225 In which other country is there a large German-speaking population?

    Correct: Austria

44. 227 Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?

    Correct: Denmark

45. 229 Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?

    Correct: Luxembourg

46. 231 What does the term 'European integration' mean?

    Correct: The term refers to the unification of European states into the EU.

47. 233 Which country is a neighbouring country of Germany?

    Correct: Czech Republic

48. 234 Where is a seat of the European Parliament?

    Correct: Strasbourg

49. 236 How many member states does the EU have today?

    Correct: 27

50. 238 At which locations does the European Parliament work?

    Correct: Strasbourg, Luxembourg and Brussels

Other topics

History and Responsibility · Living in a Democracy · Law and the Rule of Law · People and Society · Basic Rights · Symbols and Public Holidays

Also worth doing: the 10 state questions for your Bundesland and the exam vocabulary list with translations.

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