Discovering Bavarian History And Culture At The National Parl

The Bavarian State Parliament, officially known in English as the Landtag of Bavaria, is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Bavaria. It is one of the oldest parliaments in Europe, with its origins dating back to the Kingdom of Bavaria in 1818. The parliament has several important functions, including the formation of the state government, legislation, budgetary control, and supervision of the state government and administration. The Bavarian State Parliament meets in the Maximilianeum in Munich and is currently led by Minister-President Markus Söder, who was first sworn into office in 2018. The parliament is dominated by the Christian Social Union (CSU), which has won every election since 1946, with the exception of 1950. The CSU has formed coalitions with the Free Voters (FW) party to govern Bavaria. The state parliament has 180 members who are elected for a five-year term, and they represent various parliamentary groups, including the CSU, Free Voters, Alliance 90/The Greens, and the Social Democratic Party (SPD). The Bavarian State Parliament plays a crucial role in shaping the state's policies, and its history reflects the evolution of Bavaria's political landscape.

The history of the Bavarian National Parliament

The Bavarian State Parliament, officially known as the Landtag of Bavaria, is one of the oldest parliaments in Europe. Its origins stretch back to the beginning of the 14th century, with the first steps towards its creation taking place in lower Bavaria.

On 15 June 1311, "The Ottonian Handfast" marked the beginning of Bavaria's parliamentary history. Otto III, Duke of Lower Bavaria/Landshut, of the House of Wittelsbach, urgently needed money. To that end, the Lower Bavarian nobility approved a new tax, and in return, had their own rights (e.g. summary jurisdiction) confirmed. This document became the basis for the freedoms of the three "Landstände" (Estates) of nobility, clergy, and cities.

In the following centuries, Bavaria developed into an important Duchy, first under the Welfs and then, from 1180, under the Wittelsbach dynasty. After the revolution of 1918, Bavaria became a Free State, and after emerging from the dark years of Nazi rule, it has enjoyed a successful period of democracy, peace, and prosperity.

The Landtag of Bavaria was founded in 1818, in the Kingdom of Bavaria. The first assembly was held on 4 February 1819. Originally called the Ständeversammlung, it was divided into an upper house, the Kammer der Reichsräte (House of Councillors), and a lower house, the Kammer der Abgeordneten (House of Representatives). In 1848, the Ständeversammlung was de facto renamed the Landtag (state diet).

In 1919, under the Bamberg Constitution, the upper house of the Landtag was abolished, and its lower house became a unicameral democratic elected assembly. After the Nazi seizure of power in 1933, the Landtag underwent Gleichschaltung, like all German state parliaments, and was dissolved on 30 January 1934 as a result of the "Law on the Reconstruction of the Reich".

After World War II, democratic parties were allowed again by the American military government, and on 26 February 1946, a "State Advisory Committee" met in the assembly hall of Munich University as a pre-parliament. On 30 June, a Constitutional State Assembly was elected for the first time in Bavaria's history, and on 1 December, the people approved the new constitution and elected a new State Parliament.

How the Bavarian National Parliament operates

The Bavarian State Parliament, officially known in English as the Bavarian National Parliament, is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Bavaria. It is one of the oldest parliaments in Europe, founded in 1818 in the Kingdom of Bavaria. The parliament meets in the Maximilianeum in Munich.

The Bavarian National Parliament has five important functions:

• Formation of the State Government: The Minister-President is elected within one week after the first meeting of the State Parliament. The election takes place with a simple majority of the votes submitted. The members of the state government are appointed and dismissed by the Minister-President, with the approval of the State Parliament.
• Legislation: Bills can be introduced by individual members of Parliament, parliamentary groups, the state government, or the people in the form of popular petitions. The State Parliament resolves laws, except in the case of referendums, where it is bound by the Bavarian Constitution and the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.
• The Budgetary Right: The budget law is of elevated importance, creating the financial basis for the work of the state government and administration for a biennial period. Three-quarters of the Free State's income comes from taxes and similar sources, which are shared with the federal state, the states, and municipalities.
• Supervisory Function: The State Parliament supervises the state government and the administration under it. It can demand the appearance of the Minister-President and any member of the state government and has comprehensive rights to ask questions and receive information.
• Other Elective Functions and Cooperation in Other Bodies: The State Parliament elects members of the Bavarian Constitutional Court, the President of the Bavarian High Court of Auditors, and the State Commissioner for Data Protection. Additionally, members of the State Parliament form part of various bodies, including the Broadcasting Council, the Media Council, the State Sport Advisory Council, and the Advisory Council for Information and Communication Technology.

Elections to the Bavarian National Parliament are held every five years and must take place on a Sunday or public holiday. The parliament consists of at least 180 seats, with additional seats sometimes added as overhang and levelling seats. The most recent elections were held on 8 October 2023, with the next expected in 2028.

The functions of the Bavarian National Parliament

The Bavarian National Parliament, officially known as the Bavarian State Parliament, is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Bavaria. It has five key functions:

• Formation of the State Government: The Minister-President is elected by a simple majority of votes within one week of the first meeting of the State Parliament. The Minister-President appoints and dismisses the members of the state government, which consists of up to 17 ministers of state and state secretaries.
• Legislation: The Bavarian State Parliament deliberates and decides on laws, including the budget law, which creates the financial basis for the state government and administration for a biennial period. Bills can be introduced by members of Parliament, parliamentary groups, the state government, or the people through popular petitions.
• The Budgetary Right: Three-quarters of the Free State's income comes from taxes and similar sources, which are shared in a complex process between the federal state, the states, and the municipalities. The budget law holds a significant position among the laws considered by the Parliament.
• Supervisory Function: The Bavarian State Parliament supervises the state government and the administration under it. It can demand the appearance of the Minister-President and any member of the state government and has the right to ask questions and receive information. The right of petition is also part of this function, allowing anyone to direct requests and complaints to the State Parliament.
• Other Elective Functions and Cooperation in Other Bodies: The Bavarian State Parliament elects the members of the Bavarian Constitutional Court and the President of the Bavarian High Court of Auditors. Due to special legal regulations, members of the Parliament also form part of other bodies, including the Broadcasting Council, the Media Council, the State Monument Council, and various advisory councils.

The political issues discussed in the Bavarian National Parliament

The Bavarian National Parliament, officially known as the Bavarian State Parliament, is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Bavaria. The parliament meets in the Maximilianeum in Munich. The current head of government of the State of Bavaria is Minister-President Markus Söder, who has served in this role since March 2018.

The Bavarian State Parliament has five important functions: formation of government, legislation, the budgetary right, a supervisory function, and other elective functions and cooperation in other bodies.

Formation of Government

The Minister-President is elected within one week after the first meeting of the State Parliament. The election takes place with a simple majority of the votes submitted. The members of the state government are appointed and dismissed by the Minister-President, who requires the approval of the State Parliament for this. The state government consists of the Minister-President and up to 17 ministers of state and state secretaries.

Legislation

The Bavarian State Parliament deliberates and decides on laws, including the budget law, which creates the financial basis for the work of the state government and administration for a period of two years. Bills can be introduced from within the State Parliament, by the state government, or by the people in the form of popular petitions. The State Parliament resolves laws, except in the case of referendums, where it is bound by the Bavarian Constitution and the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany.

Budgetary Right

The budget law is of particular significance to the Bavarian Parliament. Three-quarters of the income of the Free State comes from taxes and similar sources, which are shared by the federal state, the states, and the municipalities. The budget deliberations include a major financial-policy ambition to avoid new debt, although this objective was temporarily suspended during the coronavirus crisis.

Supervisory Function

The Bavarian State Parliament has the key task of supervising the state government and the administration under it. For this purpose, the Bavarian State Parliament and its committees can demand the appearance of the Minister-President and any member of the state government. Conversely, the members of the state government and the commissioners appointed by them have access to all meetings of the State Parliament and its committees and must be listened to during the consultation. The members of the State Parliament are entitled to a comprehensive right to ask questions and to information from the state government to fulfil their supervisory function effectively.

Other Elective Functions and Cooperation in Other Bodies

The members of the Bavarian Constitutional Court are elected by the State Parliament, which also elects the President of the Bavarian High Court of Auditors and the State Commissioner for Data Protection upon the proposal of the state government. Due to special legal regulations, members of the Bavarian State Parliament form part of various bodies, including the Broadcasting Council, the Media Council, the State Sport Advisory Council, and the State Health Council.

The location of the Bavarian National Parliament

The Bavarian National Parliament, officially known as the Bavarian State Parliament or Landtag of Bavaria, is located in the Maximilianeum in Munich. The building has been the seat of the Bavarian State Parliament since 1949.

The Maximilianeum is not only the name of the building but also the foundation and the seat of the Bavarian State Parliament. The Bavarian State Parliament is the unicameral legislature of the German state of Bavaria and is one of the oldest parliaments in Europe. The parliament meets regularly in the Plenary Hall of the Maximilianeum, where important political issues are discussed and decisions are made on a wide range of matters.

The Bavarian State Parliament has four major tasks: the formation of the State Government, control of the State Government, other elective functions, and participation in other state bodies. The parliament is made up of at least 180 seats, with more sometimes added as overhang and levelling seats. Elections to the Landtag are held every five years and must be conducted on a Sunday or public holiday.

The current president of the Bavarian State Parliament is Ilse Aigner of the Christian Social Union (CSU).

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