Chancellor of Germany facts for kids
Quick facts for kids Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany |
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Standard of the German Chancellor
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Logo of the German Chancellor
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| Executive branch of the Federal Government Federal Chancellery |
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| Style | Mr. Chancellor (informal) His Excellency (diplomatic) |
| Member of | Federal Cabinet European Council |
| Seat | Federal Chancellery, Berlin (main seat) Palais Schaumburg, Bonn (secondary seat) |
| Nominator | President |
| Appointer | President upon election by the Bundestag |
| Term length | until the constitution of a new Bundestag (renewable) |
| Constituting instrument | German Basic Law (German Constitution) |
| Formation | 1 July 1867 |
| First holder | Otto von Bismarck |
| Deputy | Vice Chancellor |
| Salary | €255,150 per year (as of 2020[update]) |
The Chancellor of Germany is the leader of Germany's government. This person is officially called the Federal Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany. They are like the chief executive, guiding the country's main decisions.
The chancellor is chosen by the Bundestag, which is Germany's parliament. The federal president suggests a candidate, and the Bundestag votes. If Germany is in a state of defense, the chancellor also becomes the commander of the Bundeswehr, which is Germany's army.
Since 1871, thirty-seven people have been chancellor. This includes thirty-six men and one woman. The very first chancellor was Otto von Bismarck. The current chancellor is Friedrich Merz from the Christian Democratic Union party. He started his role on May 6, 2025.
What Does the Chancellor Do?
The chancellor's power comes from Germany's main law, called the Basic Law. It also comes from being the leader of the party or group of parties that has the most seats in the Bundestag. Most chancellors have also been the head of their own political party.
The first chancellor, Konrad Adenauer, set many important examples. He made the chancellor's job the main center of power in Germany. Adenauer made almost all big decisions himself. He often saw his ministers as helpers, not as equals. Even though later chancellors were less bossy, the chancellor's role became very strong. This is why experts often call Germany a "chancellor democracy."
The chancellor decides who will be in the Federal Cabinet. The president officially appoints and removes these ministers. They do this based on the chancellor's suggestions. The parliament does not need to approve these choices. The Basic Law says the chancellor can decide how many ministers there will be. They also decide what each minister's specific jobs are.
Germany's Basic Law has three main rules for how the government's executive branch works:
- The "chancellor principle" means the chancellor is responsible for all government policies. This is also called the Richtlinienkompetenz, which means "guideline setting power." Any official rules the chancellor makes are legally binding. Cabinet ministers must follow them.
- The "principle of ministerial autonomy" gives each minister freedom. They can manage their department and suggest new laws. They can do this without the cabinet interfering. But their policies must fit with the chancellor's overall guidelines.
- The "cabinet principle" says that if federal ministers disagree on their jobs or money matters, the cabinet must settle it.
Recent Chancellors of Germany
Here are some of the recent chancellors of Germany:
- Helmut Kohl (1982–1998): He was a Christian Democrat and served for a long time.
- Gerhard Schröder (1998–2005): He was from the Social Democratic Party.
- Angela Merkel (2005–2021): She was a Christian Democrat and the first female chancellor. She also served for many years.
- Olaf Scholz (2021–2025): He is from the Social Democratic Party.
- Friedrich Merz (2025–present): He is the current chancellor, from the Christian Democratic Union.
How the Chancellor is Elected
The chancellor is elected by the Bundestag. Then, the president of Germany formally appoints them. A chancellor's election happens when a new Bundestag meets. It also happens if the old chancellor resigns or passes away.
To elect a chancellor, a special majority is needed. This is called a Kanzlermehrheit or "chancellor majority." It means a majority of all elected members, not just those present. The election is done by secret ballot. The election process has three possible steps:
First Voting Phase
First, the president of Germany suggests a candidate to the Bundestag. This is usually someone the main parties have already agreed on. The Bundestag then votes on this person without debate. If the candidate gets the "chancellor majority," the president appoints them. Then, the president of the Bundestag gives them the oath of office.
Since 2025, most chancellor elections have been successful in this first step.
Second Voting Phase
If the first candidate is not elected, the Bundestag can then suggest its own candidates. A candidate needs support from at least a quarter of all members of parliament. The Bundestag can hold many votes over two weeks. A candidate still needs the "chancellor majority" to be elected.
Only once, in 2025, did an election go to the second phase. Friedrich Merz did not get enough votes in the first round. But he was elected in the second round, just a few hours later.
Third Voting Phase
If the Bundestag cannot elect a chancellor in two weeks, a final vote happens the next day. Again, candidates need support from at least a quarter of all members. If a candidate gets the "chancellor majority" in this vote, they are elected. If not, the president of Germany has a choice. They can either appoint the candidate with the most votes as chancellor. Or, they can dissolve the Bundestag and call for new elections.
As of 2025, no chancellor election has ever reached this third phase.
Removing a Chancellor: Vote of No Confidence
The Bundestag can also remove a sitting chancellor. This is done through a "constructive vote of no confidence." This means the Bundestag must elect a new chancellor at the same time it removes the old one. This also needs the "chancellor majority."
This type of vote has happened twice in Germany's history:
- On April 27, 1972, a vote against Willy Brandt failed.
- On October 1, 1982, a vote against Helmut Schmidt was successful. Helmut Kohl was then elected as the new chancellor.
A "motion of confidence" is different. Only the chancellor can propose this. It asks the Bundestag to openly say they trust the chancellor. If the chancellor loses this vote, they don't automatically leave office. Instead, it gives the chancellor other options. They can ask the president to dissolve the Bundestag and call for new elections. Or, they can declare a "legislative emergency." This allows the government to pass laws without the Bundestag for a short time.
Chancellors have used this motion to trigger new elections. This happened in 1972, 1982, 2005, and 2024.
Vice Chancellor: The Chancellor's Helper
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The chancellor must choose one of their cabinet ministers to be the vice chancellor. The vice chancellor can fill in for the chancellor if they are away or cannot do their job. In governments made of different parties working together, the leader of the second-largest party usually becomes the vice chancellor.
If the chancellor's term ends or they resign, the Bundestag must elect a new chancellor. The president can ask the old chancellor to stay on temporarily. But if the old chancellor cannot or will not, the president can appoint the vice chancellor as acting chancellor. This happened once. In 1974, Chancellor Willy Brandt resigned. He asked that the vice chancellor, Walter Scheel, take over. Scheel was acting chancellor for nine days until Helmut Schmidt was elected.
Three people have been both vice chancellor and chancellor: Ludwig Erhard, Willy Brandt, and Olaf Scholz.
The current vice chancellor of Germany is Lars Klingbeil. He is also the Minister of Finance.
Where the Chancellor Works and Lives
Since 2001, the main office of the chancellor is the Federal Chancellery in Berlin. The old office, the Palais Schaumburg in Bonn, is now a secondary office. The chancellor's country retreat is Schloss Meseberg in the state of Brandenburg.
Former chancellors had different private homes. Konrad Adenauer lived in his own house. Ludwig Erhard used a special "chancellor's bungalow" in Bonn. Angela Merkel preferred to live in her private apartment in downtown Berlin.
How to Address the Chancellor
In German, you would say Herr Bundeskanzler for a male chancellor. For a female chancellor, you would say Frau Bundeskanzlerin. In international settings, the chancellor is sometimes called "His/Her Excellency the Chancellor of the Federal Republic of Germany."
Chancellor's Salary
The chancellor of Germany holds a very important position. They receive a salary of €220,000 per year. They also get an extra €22,000 bonus.
Images for kids
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The Federal Chancellery, Berlin
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Palais Schaumburg, Bonn
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Schloss Meseberg, Gransee
See also
In Spanish: Canciller de Alemania para niños
- Vice-Chancellor of Germany
- List of chancellors of Germany by time in office
- Religious affiliations of chancellors of Germany
