GermanyAufgabe 276 · Politics in a democracy
What should you do if the person dealing with you at a German public authority treats you badly?
In the exam (German)
Was sollten Sie tun, wenn Sie von Ihrer Ansprechpartnerin/Ihrem Ansprechpartner in einer deutschen Behörde schlecht behandelt werden?
- aI cannot do anything.Ich kann nichts tun.
- bI have to put up with this treatment.Ich muss mir diese Behandlung gefallen lassen.
- cI threaten the person.Ich drohe der Person.
- dI can complain to the head of the authority.Ich kann mich bei der Behördenleiterin/beim Behördenleiter beschweren.Correct answer
Why?
Anyone who is treated badly at a public authority can complain to the head of the authority. This is called a supervisory complaint (Dienstaufsichtsbeschwerde); it costs nothing and does not have to follow any particular form. Threatening, on the other hand, is not a solution and can even be a crime.
Translated with AI. In the exam the question is in German, as shown above.
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Take a free mock examAufgabe 280
If you want to challenge an incorrect tax assessment in Germany, you must …Correct answer:lodge an objection.
Wenn Sie sich in Deutschland gegen einen falschen Steuerbescheid wehren wollen, müssen Sie … — Einspruch einlegen.
Aufgabe 282
Which honorary office (Ehrenamt) must German citizens take on if they are called upon to do so?Correct answer:election helper
Welches Ehrenamt müssen deutsche Staatsbürgerinnen und Staatsbürger übernehmen, wenn sie dazu aufgefordert werden? — Wahlhelferin/Wahlhelfer
Aufgabe 283
What do you do if you receive an incorrect bill from a German public authority?Correct answer:I lodge an objection with the authority.
Was tun Sie, wenn Sie eine falsche Rechnung von einer deutschen Behörde bekommen? — Ich lege Widerspruch bei der Behörde ein.
Aufgabe 1
In Germany, people may openly speak out against the government because …Correct answer:freedom of expression applies here.
In Deutschland dürfen Menschen offen etwas gegen die Regierung sagen, weil … — hier Meinungsfreiheit gilt.
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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