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More Government with the People: The Crisis of Representative Democracy and Options for Reform in Germany
Published online by Cambridge University Press: 06 March 2019
Abstract
Throughout the world, there is debate about how democratic systems should adapt to the demands of their increasingly emancipated citizenries. More than ever, people desire to take part in the creation of their life circumstances. The demand for participation is paired with a growing discontent with the political elites. This article looks at the challenges in the context of Germany's system of government, discussing the leading debates of democratic reform in the EU's largest member state with some incidental remarks on other countries. Specifically, the study analyzes two core components of representative democracy—the electoral process and the parliamentary decision-making procedure—and shows how they should be reformed to ensure political stability in the long run. As a measure for the analysis, the author develops a system of four preconditions, on which successful democratic government depends: Responsiveness and political leadership on the side of the elected representatives; preparedness for participation and acceptance on the part of the represented. The article shows that optimizing democracy on the basis of these pillars is not just advisable as a matter of political prudence. In fact, Germany's constitution, the Basic Law, contains a normative expectation towards the political elites that they continuously improve democracy and ensure its appropriate functioning.
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References
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101 See Ainsworth, Scott, Regulating Lobbyists and Interest Group Influence, 55 J. Pol. 41 (1993) (referencing “game theory”).Google Scholar
102 Grundgesetz für die Bundesrepublik Deutschland [Grundgesetz] [GG] [Basic Law] art. 38 (1)(2).Google Scholar
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106 Similarly—but restricted to lobbyists—the legislative proposal of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, BT-Drs. 17/2486, 5.Google Scholar
107 See the recently reformed Strafgesetzbuch [StGB] [Penal Code] §108 (e).Google Scholar
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110 See Gemeinsame Geschäftsordnung der Bundesministerien [GGO] [Joint Rules of Procedure of the Federal Ministries] §§ 47–48.Google Scholar
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114 Cf. Abgeordnetengesetz [AbG] [Delegates' Law] § 44a Abs. 4 S. 1, § 44b Nr. 1 und 2; GO-BT § 18, and §§ 1–4 of the “Verhaltensregeln für Mitglieder des Deutschen Bundestages” [Rules of Conduct for the Delegates] (appendix 1 to GO-BT). See also 135 BVerwGE 77; 118 BVerfGE 277.Google Scholar
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126 Cf. Ulrich Riehm et al., Bürgerbeteiligung durch E-Petitionen 253, 259 (2009) (giving further reform suggestions). The British www.fixmystreet.com could serve as a role model.Google Scholar
127 See Saalfeld, Thomas, Parliament und Citizens in Germany, in Parliaments and Citizens in Western Europe, 43, 51 (Philip Norton, ed., 2002).Google Scholar
128 Cf. the legislative proposal of Bündnis 90/Die Grünen, BT-Drs. 13/3578.Google Scholar
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159 Cf. Bartels, Larry M., Unequal Democracy 252 (2010) (“Economic Inequality and Political Representation”).Google Scholar
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