ABSTRACT
In the post-1945 era, the Social Democratic Party (SPD) governed West Germany for only thirteen years of the country's forty-one years of existence, but it co-governed with the Christian Democratic Union/Christian Social Union for three years and had a limited influence on Bonn politics as the chief opposition party during the other years. This chapter attempts to show why the party suffered so many defeats in national elections and analyses its ability to change the direction of policies toward the left when in power in Bonn. SPD policy is made in the Presidium, an "inner cabinet" of eleven top leaders. It consists of the party chairperson, the deputy chairpersons, the secretary, the treasurer, the Fraktion chairperson, and several members-at-large. The SPD has established a host of commissions, committees, ad hoc working groups, and associations. The three most important associations are those of the Young Socialists, the manual and salaried workers, and the women.
