Author: Michaela Vas
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Berlin Wiki: Ways to Influence Politics in Berlin
What is a Volksentscheid? A Volksentscheid, or referendum, allows Berliners to vote directly on proposed legislation and political issues outside regular elections, or to trigger an early election. Anyone who is eligible to vote in elections to the Berlin House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus) is also eligible to take part in a Volksentscheid. A Volksentscheid can only take place after a successful…
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No German Passport? You May Still Have a Vote in Berlin
If you are an EU citizen living in Berlin but do not have German citizenship, you cannot vote in the election for Berlin’s House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus). But you can vote for your local District Assembly (Bezirksverordnetenversammlung, or BVV) if you meet the eligibility requirements. Around 240,000 non-German EU citizens are eligible to take part in Berlin’s BVV elections on September…
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Berlin Wiki: How Berlin’s Government Is Formed
How Is the Government Formed? Berlin’s state government is the Senate. It consists of the Governing Mayor and ten senators. Every five years, a new Senate is formed. During coalition negotiations, the parliamentary groups agree on common political goals, the distribution of government portfolios and the budget. Afterwards, the members of the Berlin House of Representatives elect the Governing Mayor by…
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Berlin Wiki: Democracy and the Principles of Free Elections
What Does Democracy Mean? A great deal could be written about what democracy is. Put simply, in a democracy, all state authority is derived from the people. This means that the citizens of a country determine its political direction. Germany is a parliamentary and representative democracy: citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf. These elected members of parliament meet…
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Berlin Wiki: Who Influences Political Decisions?
What Is Lobbying? Lobbying is the organised effort by interest groups to influence political decisions. The term is derived from the word “lobby,” referring to the entrance halls of parliaments where representatives of various interests traditionally met with members of parliament to discuss and promote their concerns. Lobbying takes place in almost every area of politics and society. Those involved provide…
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The Signature That Didn’t Count – Finding My Voice in Berlin
When I moved to Berlin in the spring of 2022, I was approached one sunny afternoon by people carrying clipboards under their arms. Would I like to sign a petition? I was pleasantly surprised by this request – such a sense of community in Berlin, what a place to have come to live. With a Spätibier in my hand and surrounded…
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