Landtage

Landtage are the legislative assemblies of the federal states (Länder) in Germany and, in other German-speaking countries such as Austria, the corresponding state parliaments. In Germany there are 16 Landtage, each unicameral and elected to determine state law and oversee the state government. They legislate in areas reserved to the Länder by the Basic Law and the state constitutions, including education, policing, culture, and regional planning, and they approve the state budget.

Members of a Landtag are elected for fixed terms, typically four to five years, by state elections that usually combine proportional representation with local constituencies. Most states apply a threshold (commonly around 5 percent) to gain representation. The Landtag elects the head of government of the state, the minister-president (Regierungschef), and it forms the cabinet. It also has the right to scrutinize and, if necessary, remove the government through votes of confidence or no confidence, and to pass legislation and budgets within the state’s competences.

The Bundesrat, the federal representative body, represents the Länder at the national level and participates in federal legislation. Landtags work within the framework of the federation, and their laws can be subject to constitutional review by state constitutional courts or the Federal Constitutional Court when applicable.

In addition to Germany, the term Landtag is used for similar state assemblies in Austria, where each state has its own legislature that governs under its respective constitution. See also Bundestag, Bundesrat, and Federal Constitutional framework.