The Federal Chancellor is the leader of the government, whose key duties are determined in the Basic Law.

Right to form the Federal Cabinet

It is enshrined in the Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany that the Federal Chancellor holds a strong position: Article 64 of the Basic Law provides that the Federal Chancellor proposes the candidates for ministerial office, that is the members of the Federal Cabinet. The Federal Chancellor is the head of the Federal Cabinet and chairs Cabinet meetings.

The Federal Chancellor conducts the business of the Federal Government in accordance with the rules of procedure adopted by the Federal Cabinet and approved by the Federal President.

The Federal Chancellor can also propose the dismissal of Federal Ministers. 

Scope of government action

According to Article 65 of the Basic Law, the Federal Chancellor determines and is responsible for the general guidelines of government policy. This power to determine policy guidelines includes setting the framework for government action that the individual Federal Ministers then flesh out with content.

Within the limits of the policy guidelines set by the Federal Chancellor, each Federal Minister conducts the affairs of his or her department independently and on his or her own responsibility. This is called the principle of ministerial autonomy.

Acceptance of governmental responsibility

While the Federal Ministers are in charge of their respective departments, the Federal Chancellor bears the primary political responsibility, in particular with regard to key policy decisions. Overall responsibility for the Federal Government’s work therefore rests with the Federal Chancellor, including towards the German Bundestag.

This means that the Federal Chancellor is accountable to the Bundestag and must answer questions from and report to the Bundestag, for example in

• Government statements
• Government question time sessions
• Committee hearings

Governments are often coalitions of two or more parties. To ensure a stable majority in the Bundestag, the parties will specify the arrangements of their cooperation in a coalition agreement that determines the goals and activities of their future government work. 

The Federal Chancellor bears particular responsibility in a state of defence, as he or she has the power of command over the Armed Forces (Article 115b of the Basic Law).

Selection of the Vice-Chancellor

The Federal Chancellor also selects his or her deputy (Article 69 of the Basic Law). This office is usually held by a Federal Minister. In a coalition government, a member of the coalition partner’s party is generally appointed to this office.

Approval of government policy

The Federal Chancellor can use the vote of confidence to make sure that the Bundestag supports his or her policies (Article 68 of the Basic Law). If the majority of the Members of the Bundestag does not confirm their support, the Federal Chancellor can propose that the Federal President dissolves the parliament. 

However, this right lapses in the event of a constructive vote of no confidence, after which the Bundestag will elect a new Federal Chancellor by the vote of a majority of the Members of the Bundestag (Article 67 of the Basic Law).