🗳️ BAMF topic area: Living in a democracy

German Citizenship Test: Living in a Democracy — 58 questions

Elections, political parties, the Bundestag, the Bundesrat, and how political power in Germany is divided and held in check. This block covers 58 of the 300 general questions, so on average about 5.8 of the 30 general questions in your exam will come from it.

What this block tests

This question belongs to the topic area “Leben in der Demokratie” (living in a democracy). One principle sits behind almost all of them: in Germany, state authority comes from the people — Article 20 of the Grundgesetz (the constitution). Citizens elect parliaments, parliaments pass laws, and the government answers to parliament. When you are unsure which option is right, ask yourself whether the answer increases ordinary people's say in government and puts limits on power. That option is almost always the correct one.

All 58 questions on Living in a Democracy

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

1. 5 Elections in Germany are free. What does that mean?

   Correct: The voter may not be influenced or forced to vote in a certain way, and must not suffer disadvantages from voting.

2. 13 In parliament, the term "opposition" refers to …

   Correct: all members of parliament who do not belong to the governing party/parties.

3. 28 Who elects the members of the Bundestag in Germany?

   Correct: the eligible voters (the people)

4. 30 What is NOT a feature of our democracy?

   Correct: press censorship

5. 31 The cooperation of parties to form a government is called in Germany …

   Correct: Coalition.

6. 41 Why are there more than one party in a democracy?

   Correct: because this way the different opinions of citizens are represented

7. 42 Who passes a new law in Germany?

   Correct: the parliament

8. 43 When can a party be banned in Germany?

   Correct: when it fights against the constitution

9. 44 Whom can citizens in Germany NOT directly elect?

   Correct: The Federal President

10. 52 What does "popular sovereignty" mean? All state authority emanates from the …

    Correct: people.

11. 57 Who is usually elected President of the German Bundestag?

    Correct: a member of the largest parliamentary group

12. 61 What does "popular sovereignty" mean?

    Correct: State authority emanates from the people.

13. 62 When the parliament of a German federal state is elected, it is called …

    Correct: state parliament election

14. 65 It is NOT a task of the German Bundestag to …

    Correct: form the federal cabinet.

15. 73 The two largest parliamentary groups in the German Bundestag are currently …

    Correct: CDU/CSU and AfD.

16. 74 What is the parliament for all of Germany called?

    Correct: Bundestag

17. 76 What does the abbreviation CDU stand for in Germany?

    Correct: Christian Democratic Union

18. 78 What does the abbreviation SPD stand for?

    Correct: Social Democratic Party of Germany

19. 79 What does the abbreviation FDP stand for in Germany?

    Correct: Free Democratic Party

20. 81 Who elects the Chancellor in Germany?

    Correct: the Bundestag

21. 83 Who elects the German Chancellor?

    Correct: the Bundestag

22. 86 Who elects the Federal President in Germany?

    Correct: the Federal Assembly

23. 88 The parliamentary opposition in the German Bundestag …

    Correct: monitors the government.

24. 89 What is the association of members of parliament from one party called in Germany?

    Correct: Parliamentary group (Fraktion)

25. 92 What does the abbreviation CSU stand for in Germany?

    Correct: Christian Social Union

26. 93 The more "second votes" a party receives in a federal election, the …

    Correct: more seats the party receives in parliament.

27. 94 From what age can you participate in the election to the German Bundestag?

    Correct: 18

28. 98 When members of the German Bundestag switch their parliamentary group, …

    Correct: the government can lose its majority.

29. 103 What is referred to as a "traffic light coalition" in Germany? The cooperation …

    Correct: of SPD, FDP and Alliance 90/The Greens in a government

30. 105 What is a task of election helpers in Germany?

    Correct: They count the votes after the election ends.

31. 106 In Germany, volunteer election helpers assist with elections. What is a task of election helpers?

    Correct: They count the votes after the election ends.

32. 107 For how many years is the Bundestag elected in Germany?

    Correct: 4 years

33. 108 In a federal election in Germany, everyone may vote who …

    Correct: is a citizen of Germany and is at least 18 years old.

34. 109 How often are there normally federal elections in Germany?

    Correct: every four years

35. 110 For how many years is the Bundestag elected in Germany?

    Correct: 4 years

36. 112 Elections in Germany are …

    Correct: secret.

37. 113 In Germany, the party that wins elections is the one that …

    Correct: gets the most votes.

38. 114 Participating in democratic elections in Germany is …

    Correct: a right.

39. 115 What does "active suffrage" mean in Germany?

    Correct: One can vote.

40. 116 If you are allowed to vote in a federal election in Germany, that is called …

    Correct: active suffrage.

41. 117 What minimum percentage of second votes must parties receive to be elected to the German Bundestag?

    Correct: 5%

42. 119 Elections in Germany are free. What does that mean?

    Correct: Every person can decide without coercion whether they want to vote and whom they want to vote for.

43. 120 The electoral system in Germany is a …

    Correct: majority and proportional representation system.

44. 121 A party wants to enter the German Bundestag. But it must have a minimum share of voter votes. This is called …

    Correct: 5% threshold.

45. 122 What principle do elections in Germany follow? Elections in Germany are …

    Correct: free, equal, secret.

46. 123 What is the "5% threshold" in Germany?

    Correct: Minimum share of voter votes to enter parliament

47. 124 The federal election in Germany is the election …

    Correct: of the parliament for Germany.

48. 125 In a democracy, one function of regular elections is …

    Correct: to enable a change of government according to the will of the voter majority.

49. 126 What do eligible voters in Germany receive before an election?

    Correct: an election notification from the municipality

50. 127 Why does the 5% threshold exist in Germany's electoral law? It exists because …

    Correct: many small parties make forming a government more difficult.

51. 128 Members of parliament who are elected by the citizens are called …

    Correct: delegates / members of parliament.

52. 129 In Germany, the people directly elect …

    Correct: the Bundestag.

53. 130 Which ballot would be valid in a federal election?

    Correct: Image 1

54. 133 What is allowed in federal and state elections in Germany?

    Correct: One can cast their vote by postal ballot.

55. 134 They want to abolish the bus line you always use to get to work. What can you do to keep the bus line?

    Correct: I participate in a citizens' initiative to keep the bus line or start one myself.

56. 230 The European Parliament is elected regularly, namely every …

    Correct: 5 years.

57. 232 Who is elected in the European election?

    Correct: the members of the European Parliament

58. 282 Which voluntary office must German citizens take on when asked to do so?

    Correct: election helper

Other topics

History and Responsibility · The State and Federalism · 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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