GermanyAufgabe 121 · Politics in a democracy
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 …
In the exam (German)
Eine Partei möchte in den Deutschen Bundestag. Sie muss aber einen Mindestanteil an Wählerstimmen haben. Das heißt …
- a5% threshold (5%-Hürde).5%-Hürde.Correct answer
- badmission limit (Zulassungsgrenze).Zulassungsgrenze.
- cbase value (Basiswert).Basiswert.
- dguideline (Richtlinie).Richtlinie.
Why?
This rule is called the 5% threshold (5%-Hürde, literally “5% hurdle”): a party needs at least 5% of the second votes (Zweitstimmen), otherwise it normally gets no seats in the Bundestag. You can think of it as a hurdle in sport – whoever does not jump high enough does not get any further.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examAufgabe 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.
Aufgabe 123
What is the “5% threshold” (5%-Hürde) in Germany?Correct answer:the minimum share of the votes needed to get into parliament
Was ist in Deutschland die "5%-Hürde"? — Mindestanteil an Wählerstimmen, um ins Parlament zu kommen
Aufgabe 124
The Bundestag election (Bundestagswahl) in Germany is the election of …Correct answer:the parliament for Germany.
Die Bundestagswahl in Deutschland ist die Wahl … — des Parlaments für Deutschland.
Aufgabe 125
In a democracy, one function of regular elections is …Correct answer:to make a change of government possible according to the will of the majority of voters.
In einer Demokratie ist eine Funktion von regelmäßigen Wahlen, … — nach dem Willen der Wählermehrheit den Wechsel der Regierung zu ermöglichen.
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.
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