#91In Deutschland kann ein Regierungswechsel in einem Bundesland Auswirkungen auf die Bundespolitik haben. Das Regieren wird …
In Germany, a change of government in a federal state can have consequences for federal politics. Governing becomes...
Quick Controls
The correct answer is:
more difficult if it changes the majority in the Bundesrat
schwieriger, wenn dadurch die Mehrheit im Bundesrat verändert wird
Independent study resource, not a BAMF website. Translations are study aids; the exam is in German.
Quick explanation
Governing at federal level becomes more difficult if a change of government in a state changes the majority in the Bundesrat.
Why is this correct?
The state governments sit in the Bundesrat; if a state government changes, the votes in the Bundesrat change too.
Background
For many federal laws, the federal government also needs a majority in the Bundesrat – at least 35 of the 69 votes. If, after a state election, a party that is in opposition at federal level joins the state government, the federal government can lose this majority. It then has to negotiate with the states and make compromises. That is why state elections are watched closely across the country.
Why are the other answers wrong?
The majority in the Bundestag does not change through a state election – the Bundestag is only elected in the federal election. New parties in the Bundesrat do not automatically make governing easier, and whether a state is rich or poor plays no role in its Bundesrat votes.
Memory tip
State election → state government → Bundesrat → federal politics.
Legal basis: Art. 51 Basic Law (GG) ↗, Art. 77 Basic Law (GG) ↗
Leben in Deutschland © 2026