ABSTRACT
This chapter identifies the distinguishing features of the legislative process in the Federal Republic. An important characteristic of the German legislative chambers has already been identified, namely the fact that the Bundesrat represents the interests of the Laender governments. The Bundesrat's style on European Community (EC) matters is largely determined by the type of organisation represented in the House, namely governmental bodies with regional interests. EC business has been fully integrated into the existing domestic political structures of the Bundestag. The Agriculture Committee is an exceptional case because of the lack of consumer group representatives but the situation is symptomatic of the dependence of the party leaders on the subject expertise which often only the interested member can supply. The Federal Government is able to obtain politically important information from the interests by direct means rather than party intermediaries. This highlights an important distinction between the Bundestag and Bundesrat, since the latter has Laender interests to articulate at first hand.
