Federal Convention

E56998

The Federal Convention is a special constitutional body in Germany that convenes solely to elect the President of the Federal Republic.

Aliases (1)

Statements (48)
Predicate Object
instanceOf constitutional body
electoral college
federal body
abbreviation BV (Bundesversammlung)
cannot be convened for purposes other than electing the Federal President
composition an equal number of members elected by the parliaments of the Länder
members of the Bundestag
constitutionalStatus organ of the Federation
convenesFor election of the Federal President
convenesOnVacancy within 30 days after the office of Federal President falls vacant
convenesWithin 30 days before the expiry of the Federal President’s term
country Germany
decisionMakingMode plenary vote only
dissolution automatically dissolved after completion of the presidential election
electoralFunction single-purpose body for presidential election
electsOffice Federal President of Germany
electsTermLength five-year term for the Federal President
eligibilityForPresident German citizen at least 40 years old
establishedBy Basic Law of 1949
firstElectionHeld 1949
hasNoPower amend the constitution
legislate
oversee the executive
hasPermanentMembers members of the Bundestag
hasTemporaryMembers delegates from the Länder
jurisdiction federal level
language German
legalBasis Article 54 of the Basic Law
Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany
location Berlin
majorityRequirementFirstTwoBallots absolute majority of members
majorityRequirementThirdBallot relative majority of votes cast
meetingFrequency not permanent; convened as needed
meets only when a Federal President has to be elected
notToBeConfusedWith Bundesrat
German Bundestag
officialName Bundesversammlung
presidingOfficer President of the Bundestag
reElectionLimitForPresident one consecutive re-election possible
replaces Weimar Republic presidential direct elections
role elects the President of the Federal Republic of Germany
selectionMethodForStateDelegates elected by Landtage (state parliaments)
sessionPublicity generally public session
stateDelegationsReflect party strength in each Landtag
typeOfRepresentation combines federal and state representation
usualMeetingPlace Reichstag building
votingRounds up to three ballots per election
votingSystem secret ballot

Referenced by (2)
Subject (surface form when different) Predicate
Constitutional Convention
alsoKnownAs
President of Germany
appointedBy

Please wait…