The correct answer is:
federal state.
Bundesstaat.
Independent study resource, not a BAMF website. Translations are study aids; the exam is in German.
Quick explanation
Germany is a democratic and social federal state.
Why is this correct?
This is stated in Article 20 of the Basic Law: the federation and 16 states together form the state.
Background
According to Article 20 of the Basic Law, Germany is a “democratic and social federal state”. In a federal state, states join together to form one common state. The states keep their own responsibilities, for example for schools and the police; the federation is responsible, for example, for foreign policy and defence.
Why are the other answers wrong?
A confederation (Staatenbund) is a loose association of independent states without a common state. The Federal Constitutional Court calls the European Union a “Staatenverbund” (association of states). In a centralised state like France, there are no states with their own parliaments and governments.
Memory tip
Federal Republic → federal state (Bundesstaat).
Legal basis: Art. 20 Basic Law (GG) ↗
Leben in Deutschland © 2026