A great deal could be written about what democracy is. Put simply, in a democracy, all state authority is derived from the people. This means that the citizens of a country determine its political direction. Germany is a parliamentary and representative democracy: citizens elect representatives who make decisions on their behalf. These elected members of parliament meet in legislative bodies such as the German Bundestag.
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In Berlin, eligible voters elect a new state parliament, the House of Representatives (Abgeordnetenhaus, AGH), every five years. While the AGH is elected directly, the Senate, as the state government, is formed indirectly. The House of Representatives elects the Governing Mayor, who then appoints the senators.
The Constitution of Berlin allows citizens to participate directly in legislation through instruments of direct democracy, such as popular initiatives and referendums. Young people aged 16 and over may also take part in these procedures. For example, in 2021 a majority of voters supported the socialisation of large housing companies, and in 2014 a majority voted against the development of Tempelhofer Feld.
