Notes

Three aspects characterise Germany's democratic structures:

1. The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic state. In accordance with Article 20 (1) of the Basic Law [Grundgesetz/GG]), all state authority is derived from the people. A quintessential characteristic of this democracy is that parliament – the Bundestag – is chosen in general, direct, free, equal and secret elections. All German citizens aged 18 and over are eligible voters (right to vote). They can also be elected (right to stand for election) provided they have held German citizenship for at least one year. Bundestag elections must be held every four years. The parliaments of the 16 federal states work under a similar system. In some federal states, all German citizens aged 16 and over are eligible to vote.
2. Party pluralism is another defining element of democracy. Article 21 of the Basic Law describes the status of political parties: "(1) Political parties shall participate in the formation of the political will of the people. They may be freely established. Their internal organisation must conform to democratic principles. They must publicly account for their assets and for the sources and use of their funds. (2) Parties that, by reason of their aims or the behaviour of their adherents, seek to undermine or abolish the free democratic basic order or to endanger the existence of the Federal Republic of Germany shall be unconstitutional. The Federal Constitutional Court shall rule on the question of unconstitutionality."
3. However, democracy is not only about the state's institutional structure: it is also about political autonomy, participation in civil society and the power of the people to choose. Initiatives by young people, youth associations, youth self-representation groups, social movements and civic initiatives also contribute important democratic functions in civil society. Moreover, young people are entitled to democracy education. The federal government's 16th Child and Youth Report (2020) includes this right explicitly. According to the report, young people not only have participation rights, but must also be helped and supported with carrying out activities of civic and political engagement. Democracy education is an explicit mandate of child and youth work and an interdisciplinary task of child and youth services. 

• Bundesregierung (2020): Bericht über die Lage junger Menschen und die Bestrebungen und Leistungen der Kinder- und Jugendhilfe – 16. Kinder- und Jugendbericht – Förderung demokratischer Bildung im Kindes- und Jugendalter (BT-Drucksache 19/24200) (last accessed: 31 July 2023).
• Bundeszentrale für politische Bildung (ed.) (2017): Informationen zur politischen Bildung (Heft 332 - Demokratie). Bonn.
• Honneth, Axel (2023): Der arbeitende Souverän. Berlin.