ABSTRACT
In Germany, the question of relations between the national executive and local authorities (municipalities and districts) is different from that in France. On the one hand, a distinction must be made between the federal government and the Länder: the Länder do not simply form administrative units, but are themselves political units, and they decide on the responsibilities for the execution of all laws, i.e. also whether this should be done by their own administrations or the administrations at regional or local level. In most areas, even federal laws are executed by the administrations of the Länder. On the other hand, the municipalities and districts have the right to self-administration. In any case, there is no binding legal relationship between the federal government and the municipalities or districts.
