GermanyAufgabe 123 · Politics in a democracy
What is the “5% threshold” (5%-Hürde) in Germany?
In the exam (German)
Was ist in Deutschland die "5%-Hürde"?
- aa voting rule in the Bundestag for small partiesAbstimmungsregelung im Bundestag für kleine Parteien
- ban attendance check in the Bundestag for votesAnwesenheitskontrolle im Bundestag für Abstimmungen
- cthe minimum share of the votes needed to get into parliamentMindestanteil an Wählerstimmen, um ins Parlament zu kommenCorrect answer
- dan attendance check in the Bundesrat for votesAnwesenheitskontrolle im Bundesrat für Abstimmungen
Why?
The 5% threshold is the minimum share of the votes that a party needs in an election to get into parliament; in the Bundestag election, the second votes (Zweitstimmen) count for this. It has nothing to do with votes or attendance in the Bundestag or the Bundesrat. It applies in the election, not later in parliament.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examAufgabe 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.
Aufgabe 126
What do citizens who are entitled to vote in Germany receive before an election?Correct answer:a polling card from the municipality
Was bekommen wahlberechtigte Bürgerinnen und Bürger in Deutschland vor einer Wahl? — eine Wahlbenachrichtigung von der Gemeinde
Aufgabe 127
Why is there a 5% threshold in the electoral law of the Federal Republic of Germany? It exists because …Correct answer:many small parties make it harder to form a government.
Warum gibt es die 5%-Hürde im Wahlgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland? Es gibt sie, weil … — viele kleine Parteien die Regierungsbildung erschweren.
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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