[Innenpolitik] Bundeszwang & Bundesintervention - Definition & Ablauf
Federal coercion (Bundeszwang) and federal intervention (Bundesintervention) are constitutional mechanisms established by the Basic Law in Germany. Specifically, federal intervention serves to place police forces under federal control, while federal coercion applies to the subordination of a federal state's constitutional bodies such as the state government or parliament or the conduct of subordinate authorities within the respective federal states. Both instruments serve to safeguard the constitutional order of the Federal Republic of Germany. Given current events, the definitions and potential procedures associated with these measures are outlined here.
Germany is (pursuant to Art. 20) a democratic and social federal state. To address constitutional crises, the Basic Law provides for federal coercion (pursuant to Art. 37) and federal intervention (pursuant to Art. 91). Specifically both instruments enable action to be taken against the federal states or within them. [1]
Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland Art 20Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 20
- Die Bundesrepublik Deutschland ist ein demokratischer und sozialer Bundesstaat.
- Alle Staatsgewalt geht vom Volke aus. Sie wird vom Volke in Wahlen und Abstimmungen und durch besondere Organe der Gesetzgebung, der vollziehenden Gewalt und der Rechtsprechung ausgeübt.
- Die Gesetzgebung ist an die verfassungsmäßige Ordnung, die vollziehende Gewalt und die Rechtsprechung sind an Gesetz und Recht gebunden.
- Gegen jeden, der es unternimmt, diese Ordnung zu beseitigen, haben alle Deutschen das Recht zum Widerstand, wenn andere Abhilfe nicht möglich ist.
[1]
- The Federal Republic of Germany is a democratic and social federal state.
- All state authority is derived from the people. It is exercised by the people through elections and votes and through specific bodies of the legislature, the executive, and the judiciary.
- The legislature is bound by the constitutional order; the executive and the judiciary are bound by law and justice.
- All Germans have the right to resist any person or persons seeking to abolish this constitutional order, if no other remedy is available.
1. Federal Coercion pursuant to Article 37
1.1. Definition of Federal Coercion
Federal coercion (pursuant to Art. 37) serves to ensure compliance with the law by the federal states. If a federal state fails to fulfill its obligations under the Basic Law or another federal law, the Federal Government may, with the consent of the Bundesrat (Upper House), take the necessary measures to compel the state to fulfill those obligations. To implement federal coercion, the Federal Government or its representative has the authority to issue instructions to all federal states and their authorities. Politically, federal coercion is considered a measure of last resort and has never been invoked in the history of the Federal Republic of Germany. [2] [6, p.4]
Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland Art 37Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 37
- Wenn ein Land die ihm nach dem Grundgesetze oder einem anderen Bundesgesetze obliegenden Bundespflichten nicht erfüllt, kann die Bundesregierung mit Zustimmung des Bundesrates die notwendigen Maßnahmen treffen, um das Land im Wege des Bundeszwanges zur Erfüllung seiner Pflichten anzuhalten.
- Zur Durchführung des Bundeszwanges hat die Bundesregierung oder ihr Beauftragter das Weisungsrecht gegenüber allen Ländern und ihren Behörden.
[2]
- If a Federal States fails to comply with the federal obligations imposed on it by the Basic Law or another federal law, the Federal Government may, with the consent of the Bundesrat, take the necessary measures to compel the Land to fulfill its obligations by means of federal enforcement.
- For the implementation of federal enforcement, the Federal Government or its representative has the authority to issue instructions to all Federal States and their authorities.
1.2. Process of Federal Coercion
The steps regarding the decision to invoke federal enforcement (pursuant to Art. 37) are as follows:
- Determination of the factual basis for federal enforcement
- Decision on ordering federal enforcement
- Selection of necessary measures
- Consent of the Bundesrat
The initiation of federal enforcement measures presupposes that a federal state fails to fulfill obligations arising from the Basic Law or another federal statute. This requires action or inaction by one or more constitutional organs of a federal state such as the state government or state parliament or the conduct of subordinate authorities. Due to the principle of judicial independence (pursuant to Art. 97) judicial decisions cannot, a priori, constitute a violation of a federal obligation. Such non-fulfillment may result from either an act or an omission it is immaterial whether the obligation was left entirely or partially unfulfilled or was not fulfilled in the proper manner. However a mere threat to the fulfillment of a federal obligation is insufficient. [4] [5, p.7-12] [6, p.5-7]
Once the facts constituting grounds for federal coercion or non compliance have been established, the Federal Government decides at its own discretion whether to order federal coercion. The federal state concerned must be given the opportunity to state its position before a decision to order federal enforcement is made, and the Federal Government must genuinely address that state's position. This requirement may be waived only in cases of particular urgency. [5, p.12] [6, p.7-8]
Once the Federal Government has decided to order federal enforcement action it has at its disposal all measures suitable and necessary to compel the state in question to fulfill its federal obligations. However measures of a punitive nature and irreversible measures are impermissible. Furthermore if multiple measures are equally suitable the one that least affects the state concerned must be selected. To implement these measures, the Federal Government may appoint a federal commissioner with general and specific authority. A temporary assumption of the state’s governmental authority by federal bodies can only be provisional in nature, though it may extend to the complete suspension of the state's governmental authority. [5, p.12-13] [6, p.8-10]
The exercise of federal coercion by the Federal Government requires the prior consent of the Bundesrat. Such consent by the Bundesrat cannot be granted retroactively. However the Bundesrat may at any time revoke consent already granted, with effect for the future. This does not mean that the measures taken become unlawful retroactively. It does mean however that measures must be discontinued from the time of the revocation. [5, p.13-14] [6, p.10-11]
Affected federal states may challenge measures taken by the Federal Government in the context of federal enforcement through ordinary proceedings or, in urgent cases, by means of an application for a temporary injunction. [6, p.19]
2. Federal Intervention pursuant to Article 91
2.1. Definition of Federal Intervention
Federal intervention (pursuant to Art. 91) serves to uphold democracy in the event of an internal emergency. An internal emergency refers to a state of crisis resulting from civil war, armed insurrection, or other domestic unrest that places the existence of the state or its constitutional order at risk. To avert such a danger, federal intervention allows a federal state to request police forces from other federal states, as well as personnel and facilities from other administrative bodies and the Federal Police. If the federal state facing the threat is itself unwilling or unable to avert the danger, the Federal Government may place the police forces of that state and those of other states under its own command and deploy units of the Federal Police. [3] [6, p.11-12]
Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland Art 91Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, Article 91
- Zur Abwehr einer drohenden Gefahr für den Bestand oder die freiheitliche demokratische Grundordnung des Bundes oder eines Landes kann ein Land Polizeikräfte anderer Länder sowie Kräfte und Einrichtungen anderer Verwaltungen und des Bundesgrenzschutzes anfordern.
- Ist das Land, in dem die Gefahr droht, nicht selbst zur Bekämpfung der Gefahr bereit oder in der Lage, so kann die Bundesregierung die Polizei in diesem Lande und die Polizeikräfte anderer Länder ihren Weisungen unterstellen sowie Einheiten des Bundesgrenzschutzes einsetzen. Die Anordnung ist nach Beseitigung der Gefahr, im übrigen jederzeit auf Verlangen des Bundesrates aufzuheben. Erstreckt sich die Gefahr auf das Gebiet mehr als eines Landes, so kann die Bundesregierung, soweit es zur wirksamen Bekämpfung erforderlich ist, den Landesregierungen Weisungen erteilen; Satz 1 und Satz 2 bleiben unberührt.
[3]
- To avert an imminent danger to the existence or the free democratic basic order of the Federation or of a federal state, a federal state may request the assistance of police forces from other federal states as well as forces and facilities of other administrative authorities and of the Federal Border Police.
- If the federal states in which the danger threatens is not itself willing or able to combat the danger, the Federal Government may place the police in that federal state and the police forces of other federal states under its orders and deploy units of the Federal Border Police. The order shall be rescinded after the danger has been averted, or otherwise at any time upon the request of the Bundesrat. If the danger extends to the territory of more than one Land, the Federal Government may, to the extent necessary for effective action, issue instructions to the federal state governments; the first and second sentences remain unaffected.
2.2. Process of Federal Intervention
First, there must be an imminent threat to the existence or the free democratic basic order of the Federation or of a federal state. The cause of the threat is immaterial and may be political, social, economic, or ecological in nature. The source of the threat is likewise immaterial, it may stem from private individuals, political parties acting against the constitutional order, or state organs whether domestic or foreign. According to the case law of the Federal Constitutional Court (pursuant to Art. 21 para. 2), the "free democratic basic order" is understood as an order that excluding any rule of force or arbitrary power constitutes a system of governance based on the rule of law, founded on the self-determination of the people in accordance with the will of the respective majority, as well as on freedom and equality. [3] [6, p.12-14]
Federal intervention presupposes that the federal state where the threat originates is itself neither willing nor able to take action against that threat. In this context it suffices if the federal state in question is merely the source of the threat without otherwise being affected by it. A lack of willingness to act against the threat may be explicitly stated or manifested through an absence of measures or inadequate measures. An inability to act against the threat is defined as the failure of measures despite the exhaustion of all available options. [6, p.14-15]
If the prerequisites for federal intervention are met, the Federal Government decides at its own discretion whether to intervene and which measures to employ specifically, placing the police force of the relevant federal state under federal command and deploying the Federal Police. The recipients of such directives are the various units within the police authorities subject to the directive, rather than general administrative authorities. [6, p.16-18]
Affected federal states may challenge measures taken by the Federal Government in the context of a state of internal emergency through ordinary proceedings or, in urgent cases, by means of an application for a temporary injunction. [6, p.19]
Src:
[1] Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Art 20
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_20.html
[2] Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Art 37
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_37.html
[3] Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Art 91
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_91.html
[4] Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland - Art 97
https://www.gesetze-im-internet.de/gg/art_97.html
[5] Möglichkeiten des Bundeszwangs nach Art. 37 Grundgesetz - Einsetzung eines “Sparkommissars“? 2006-07-19
https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/407376/f068a274c9472b069d06344ec3eadb2f/wd-3-249-06-pdf-data.pdf
[6] Titel: Voraussetzungen und Grenzen von Bundeszwang und Bundesintervention 2026-01-13
https://www.bundestag.de/resource/blob/1145858/WD-3-101-25.pdf
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