Tag: participation
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Who Will Lead Germany Into Its International Future?
What does the story of Charles De Gaulle teach us? Antonin Baudry’s La Bataille de Gaulle tells, in five hours, the story of the General during the Second World War. A great movie. I learned a lot. Tenacity. De Gaulle arrives alone in London. On 18 June 1940, he makes his first BBC speech, speaking on behalf of a free France.…
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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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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: 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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