Question 127 · Federal question
Why is there a 5% threshold in the electoral law of the Federal Republic of Germany? It…
German original (as asked in the real test)
Warum gibt es die 5%-Hürde im Wahlgesetz der Bundesrepublik Deutschland? Es gibt sie, weil …
- A die Programme von vielen kleinen Parteien viele Gemeinsamkeiten haben.
- B die Bürgerinnen und Bürger bei vielen kleinen Parteien die Orientierung verlieren können.
- C viele kleine Parteien die Regierungsbildung erschweren. ✓ Correct answer
- D die kleinen Parteien nicht so viel Geld haben, um die Politikerinnen und Politiker zu bezahlen.
Translation
Why is there a 5% threshold in the electoral law of the Federal Republic of Germany? It exists because …
- A the programs of many small parties have many similarities.
- B citizens can lose orientation with many small parties.
- C many small parties make government formation more difficult. ✓ Correct answer
- D the small parties do not have as much money to pay the politicians.
Explanation
Germany’s 5% electoral threshold is designed to prevent excessive party fragmentation in parliament, which can make coalition building and forming a stable government difficult. By excluding very small parties, it supports governability and parliamentary stability, not voter guidance or party financing issues.
Tips
- Look for keywords like stability, fragmentation, governability, and coalition formation when thresholds are mentioned.
- Eliminate options that refer to voters’ confusion or party finances; the Grundgesetz and electoral laws focus on functional parliament and stable governments.
- Remember: proportional systems often use thresholds to avoid a splintered legislature that hampers forming a government.
Practice in the app
