The German Federal Government
The Federal Chancellor and the federal ministers form the Federal Government, the cabinet.
The Federal Chancellor heads the Federal Government. Together with the federal ministers, he or she forms the Federal Government, the cabinet. Alongside the Chancellor’s power to set policy guidelines, within these general parameters ministers on principle run their ministries independently; the collective principle also applies, whereby the Federal Government settles disputes by majority decision. Since the 2021 general election, the federal cabinet has consisted of 15 ministers and the Head of the Federal Chancellery in addition to the Federal Chancellor. The federal ministries are the highest federal authorities for the relevant departments. The Federal Chancellor determines and is responsible for the general guidelines of policy.
The seat of government is the federal capital Berlin. Before German reunification in 1990, Bonn was the capital of the Federal Republic of Germany. In June 1991 the Bundestag decided that Berlin would be the seat of parliament and of government. Nevertheless, six federal ministries maintain their headquarters in Bonn, and all the ministries maintain offices in both cities. Bonn, as the second political centre of the Federal Republic, likewise bears the name Federal City of Bonn.
Federal Ministries
Federal Ministry of Finance
→ bundesfinanzministerium.de
Federal Ministry of the Interior and Community
→ bmi.bund.de
Federal Foreign Office
→ diplo.de
Federal Ministry for Economic Affairs and Climate Action
→ bmwi.de
Federal Ministry of Justice
→ bmjv.de
Federal Ministry of Labour and Social Affairs
→ bmas.de
Federal Ministry of Defence
→ bmvg.de
Federal Ministry of Food and Agriculture
→ bmel.de
Federal Ministry for Family Affairs, Senior Citizens, Women and Youth
→ bmfsfj.de
Federal Ministry of Health
→ bundesgesundheitsministerium.de
Federal Ministry for Digital and Transport
→ bmvi.de
Federal Ministry for the Environment, Nature Conservation, Nuclear Safety and Consumer Protection
→ bmu.de
Federal Ministry of Education and Research
→ bmbf.de
Federal Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development
→ bmz.de
Federal Ministry of Building
→ bmi.bund.de/bauen-wohnen
