ABSTRACT
The German legislature consists of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat. Although the Bundesrat is not a classic second chamber of a unified legislative body with regard to its composition and functions, it participates in the legislative process on equal footing with the Bundestag. The members of the Bundestag are directly elected every four years. This chapter examines the general structure of the administrations of the Bundestag and the Bundesrat as well as their roles in the legislative process, the scrutiny of European Union (EU) affairs and interparliamentary cooperation. The German Bundestag is not just one of the largest national parliaments in the EU in terms of the number of MPs, but it can also rely on a sizeable administration. The administration of the Bundesrat is headed by a Secretary General and a Deputy Secretary General who are elected by the Bundesrat's plenary.
