Category: Berlin Wiki
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Berlin Wiki: How Do You Decide Who to Vote For?
How Do You Decide Which Party to Vote For? Many people find it difficult to decide which party to vote for. But instead of not voting at all, it is important to inform yourself thoroughly. Democracy is based on people making decisions together based on their own convictions. To do so, voters need to be aware of their own views and…
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Berlin Wiki: What Are the Key Issues in Berlin’s Election?
Why Is Rent Policy a Central Issue in Berlin’s Election Campaign? Around 85 percent of Berliners live in rented accommodation. At the same time, the housing market in the capital is tight: rents are rising, new housing construction remains sluggish, and legal loopholes frequently allow furnished apartments to be offered at inflated prices. This is why rent policy is one of…
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Berlin Wiki: Equal Access to Democracy
What Impact Does Berlin’s Electoral Reform Have? In September 2023, Berlin’s House of Representatives (AGH) adopted an amendment to the state constitution lowering the voting age from 18 to 16. The aim of the constitutional amendment is to strengthen the democratic participation of young people. The new rule will apply for the first time in the 2026 election to the House…
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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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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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