Glossary: terms from the naturalization test

This glossary explains terms that come up often in the question catalog for the Leben in Deutschland test and the naturalization test. Each entry keeps the German term, since that is how it appears in the real test, with a plain-language explanation in one to three sentences. For a binding legal reading of your own situation, the responsible authority is the right place to ask.

State and politics

Grundgesetz: The Grundgesetz is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany. It has been in force since 1949 and sets out basic rights and the structure of the state.
Grundrechte: Grundrechte are the basic rights guaranteed in the Grundgesetz, such as human dignity, freedom of expression, and equal rights. They bind every state authority.
Bundestag: The Bundestag is the federal parliament, elected by the people. It passes laws and elects the Bundeskanzler.
Bundesrat: The Bundesrat represents the 16 federal states at the national level. Many laws need its approval before they take effect.
Bundeskanzler: The Bundeskanzler is Germany's head of government, elected by the Bundestag and in charge of the federal government.
Bundespräsident: The Bundespräsident is Germany's head of state. This person represents the country abroad and signs laws before they take effect.
Bundesverfassungsgericht: The Bundesverfassungsgericht is Germany's highest court for questions about the Grundgesetz. It can declare a law unconstitutional.
Legislative: The Legislative is the branch that makes laws. In Germany that means the Bundestag and the Bundesrat.
Exekutive: The Exekutive is the executive branch. It covers the government and public administration, which carry out the laws.
Judikative: The Judikative is the judicial branch, made up of the independent courts.
Gewaltenteilung: Gewaltenteilung means the separation of powers: the Legislative, Exekutive, and Judikative are kept apart and check each other, so no single institution gets too much power.
Föderalismus: Föderalismus describes how state power is split between the federal level (Bund) and the 16 states (Länder). Both levels have their own areas of responsibility.
Rechtsstaat: In a Rechtsstaat, everything the state does is bound by law. Citizens can challenge state decisions in court.
Demokratie: Demokratie (democracy) is a form of government where power comes from the people, usually exercised through elections and elected representatives.
Wahlrecht: Wahlrecht is the right to vote (active) or to stand for election (passive). For Bundestag elections it usually applies to German citizens from age 18.
Erststimme: With the Erststimme, voters choose a candidate directly in their own constituency in a Bundestag election.
Zweitstimme: With the Zweitstimme, voters choose a party. It determines how many seats each party gets in the Bundestag.
5-Prozent-Hürde: The 5-Prozent-Hürde (5 percent threshold) means a party needs at least 5 percent of the Zweitstimme votes to enter the Bundestag through the normal route.
Fraktion: A Fraktion is the group formed by all members of parliament belonging to the same party.
Koalition: A Koalition is an alliance between several parties to form a government together, when no single party has a majority on its own.
Opposition: The Opposition consists of the parties in parliament that are not part of the government. It scrutinizes the government and puts forward its own proposals.
Ministerpräsident: The Ministerpräsident is the head of government of a federal state, roughly equivalent to the Bundeskanzler at the national level.
Landtag: The Landtag is the parliament of a federal state. It usually elects the Ministerpräsident and passes state laws.
Bundesland: A Bundesland is one of the 16 states that make up the Federal Republic of Germany. Each has its own constitution and administration.
Kommune (Gemeinde): A Kommune, such as a town or municipality, is the lowest level of administration in Germany, below the federal and state level.

History

Nationalsozialismus: Nationalsozialismus (National Socialism) was the ideology and rule of the NSDAP under Adolf Hitler from 1933 to 1945, marked by dictatorship, war, and mass murder.
Holocaust (Shoah): The Holocaust, also called the Shoah, was the systematic murder of about six million European Jews by Nazi Germany.
Antisemitismus: Antisemitismus (antisemitism) means hostility, prejudice, or hatred toward Jews. It is an important topic in German civic education, both historically and today.
DDR: The GDR (DDR) (German Democratic Republic) was the East German state from 1949 to 1990, run as a socialist one-party state.
Berliner Mauer: The Berliner Mauer (Berlin Wall) was built by the GDR in 1961 and divided East and West Berlin. It fell on 9 November 1989.
Wiedervereinigung: Wiedervereinigung (reunification) refers to the GDR joining the Federal Republic of Germany on 3 October 1990.
Kalter Krieg: The Kalter Krieg (Cold War) was the political and military standoff between the US and the Soviet Union after 1945, during which Germany itself was divided.

Society and everyday life

Sozialstaat: The Sozialstaat (welfare state) is a basic principle in Germany under which the state provides social security and softens social inequality, partly through Sozialversicherung.
Sozialversicherung: Sozialversicherung is the collective term for health, pension, unemployment, long-term care, and accident insurance. Employees are usually required to be members.
Krankenversicherung: Krankenversicherung (health insurance) covers the cost of medical treatment and medication. Having health insurance is required by law in Germany.
Rentenversicherung: Rentenversicherung (pension insurance) pays a pension in old age or in case of reduced earning capacity, funded by contributions made during working life.
Arbeitslosenversicherung: Arbeitslosenversicherung (unemployment insurance) pays financial support, Arbeitslosengeld, for a limited time if you become unemployed.
Kirchensteuer: Kirchensteuer (church tax) is collected from members of certain religious communities, usually together with income tax through the tax office.
Gewerkschaft: A Gewerkschaft (trade union) represents the interests of employees, for example on wages and working conditions.
Tarifvertrag: A Tarifvertrag is an agreement between a trade union and employers about wages and working conditions for an industry or a company.
Mindestlohn: The Mindestlohn (minimum wage) is the lowest hourly wage set by law that employers must pay.
Integrationskurs: An Integrationskurs (integration course) combines a language course with an orientation course. It is mainly aimed at newcomers and ends with the Leben in Deutschland test.
Volkshochschule: A Volkshochschule is an adult education center. Many offer integration courses and are approved test centers for the naturalization test.
Einbürgerung: Einbürgerung (naturalization) means acquiring German citizenship by application, usually after several years of lawful residence in Germany.
Aufenthaltstitel: An Aufenthaltstitel is the official permit that allows a foreign national to stay in Germany, for example a residence permit or a settlement permit.
Niederlassungserlaubnis: The Niederlassungserlaubnis is an unlimited settlement permit that usually gives more rights than a time-limited residence permit.
Ausländerbehörde: The Ausländerbehörde is the authority responsible for residence permits and other immigration matters.
Einbürgerungsbehörde: The Einbürgerungsbehörde processes citizenship applications and checks whether the requirements are met.
Meldepflicht: The Meldepflicht requires you to register your address with the local registration office, usually within two weeks of moving in.
Schulpflicht: The Schulpflicht (compulsory schooling) requires children in Germany to attend school for a set number of years, regardless of their parents' citizenship.