Question 10
The Federal Republic of Germany has a three-tier administrative structure. What is the lowest political level called?
German original: Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland hat einen dreistufigen Verwaltungsaufbau. Wie heißt die unterste politische Stufe?. In the test, all questions are asked in German.
Answer options
- City councillors
- District administrators
- Municipalities — Correct answer
- District offices
Explanation
The lowest political level in Germany's administrative structure is the municipality (Gemeinde). Above that are the federal states, and at the highest level the federal government. Municipal self-governance is guaranteed in Art. 28 Basic Law.
Key terms in this question
- Germany — Germany is a country in central Europe with a parliamentary democracy. It is a member of the European Union and its capital is Berlin.
- Federal Republic — The Federal Republic of Germany is the official name of the German state. It consists of 16 federal states and is a democratic republic.
- political — 'Political' describes everything related to the organization of a state, government, and decisions that affect society as a whole.
- means / is called — 'Heißt' is the third person singular form of the German verb 'heißen'. It is used to state someone's or something's name, or to explain the meaning of something.
- Federal state — A federal state is one of the 16 regions that together form Germany. Each state has its own government, parliament, and areas of responsibility.
- first — 'First' describes the person or thing that comes before all others in a sequence or order, at position number one.
- the Federal Government / the Federation — The Federation refers to the central level of government in Germany, as opposed to the individual federal states (Länder). It is responsible for matters that affect the whole country, such as foreign policy or national defense.
- Republic — A republic is a form of government in which political power belongs to the people, who elect representatives to govern the country. There is no monarch; the head of state is usually an elected president or similar figure.