GermanyAufgabe 117 · Politics in a democracy
What percentage of the second votes (Zweitstimmen) must parties get at least in order to be elected to the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag)?
In the exam (German)
Wie viel Prozent der Zweitstimmen müssen Parteien mindestens bekommen, um in den Deutschen Bundestag gewählt zu werden?
- a3%3%
- b4%4%
- c5%5%Correct answer
- d6%6%
Why?
In the Bundestag election, a party needs at least 5% of the second votes to get seats in the Bundestag. This is the 5% threshold (5%-Hürde). Memory aid: 5% is one vote in every twenty. There are only a few exceptions, for example for parties of national minorities.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
Check yourself
Would you know these too?
The same number of questions and the same pass mark as the real test, marked at once. Your first mock is free and needs no account.
Take a free mock examAufgabe 119
Elections in Germany are free. What does this mean?Correct answer:Everyone can decide without coercion whether to vote and whom to vote for.
Wahlen in Deutschland sind frei. Was bedeutet das? — Jede Person kann ohne Zwang entscheiden, ob sie wählen möchte und wen sie wählen möchte.
Aufgabe 120
The electoral system in Germany is …Correct answer:a majority and proportional voting system (Mehrheits- und Verhältniswahlrecht).
Das Wahlsystem in Deutschland ist ein … — Mehrheits- und Verhältniswahlrecht.
Aufgabe 121
A party wants to get into the German Federal Parliament (Bundestag). But it must have a minimum share of the votes. This is called the …Correct answer:5% threshold (5%-Hürde).
Eine Partei möchte in den Deutschen Bundestag. Sie muss aber einen Mindestanteil an Wählerstimmen haben. Das heißt … — 5%-Hürde.
Aufgabe 122
Which principle do elections in Germany follow? Elections in Germany are …Correct answer:free, equal, secret.
Welchem Grundsatz unterliegen Wahlen in Deutschland? Wahlen in Deutschland sind … — frei, gleich, geheim.
Source
Questions and options: Federal Office for Migration and Refugees (BAMF), Gesamtfragenkatalog for the “Leben in Deutschland” test and the Einbürgerungstest, as of 07.05.2025 (Annex 1 to the Einbürgerungstestverordnung). The English translation and the explanations are ours, written with AI; in the exam the questions are asked in German. The coats of arms, flags and photos come from Wikimedia Commons, the maps and ballot papers are drawn by us – authors and licences are listed under Image credits. This is not a government service.
Official informationTry it under exam conditions.
The same number of questions and the same pass mark as the real test, marked at once. Your first mock is free and needs no account.
The pass €7.99 · 180 days of access for one payment — it never renews