Merkel: Bundesrat Legislates Too Much

The leader of the conservative Christian Democrats (CDU), Angela Merkel, says Germany’s upper legislative chamber, the Bundesrat, should be less involved in making law. The country’s constitution, the Basic Law, stipulates that the Bundesrat approve any law that affects areas that fall under state jurisdiction. According to Merkel, the authors of the Basic Law expected that 10 percent of laws would have to pass through the upper chamber, but because of the "mish-mash of jurisdictions” that exists between the federal and state governments, some 60 percent of laws must now meet with Bundesrat approval. The CDU chief said she would like to see one-third of all bills go before the chamber. A commission made up of various legislative bodies on the federal, state and municipal levels is currently working on a plan for reforming Germany’s federal system.