How do Germany’s state governments participate in the Bundesrat?

The Bundesrat (Federal Council) serves as the upper legislative chamber of the Federal Republic of Germany, functioning as a body that represents the interests of the individual state governments (Länder) at the federal level.12

State participation in the Bundesrat is structured as follows:

• Composition: The chamber is composed of members of the state governments. The number of representatives each state sends is determined by its population size.1
• Voting Mandate: Delegations are strictly bound to vote unanimously according to the instructions provided by their respective state governments.2
• Legislative Role: While the Bundestag is the primary legislative body, the Bundesrat’s consent is mandatory for legislation that directly affects state interests, particularly regarding finance, administration, and constitutional amendments.12
• Veto Power: The Bundesrat can reject routine legislation. Depending on the type of bill, the Bundestag may override a Bundesrat rejection with a simple majority or, if the Bundesrat opposes a bill by a two-thirds majority, a corresponding two-thirds majority in the Bundestag.2