Democratic, social, safe

According to its Constitution, the Federal Republic of Germany, founded in 1949, is a "democratic and social federalist state". It was initially comprised of eleven partially sovereign federal states. Five further federal states joined the country in 1990 following reunification. The political system is federalist and organized as a parliamentary democracy. The Constitution's state order is based on constitutional organs and stable legal and administrative systems. The separation of powers and multi-party system guarantee a stable democracy. Germany is a member of the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the G8.

Berlin is the country's capital city and seat of government, although some federal ministries are located in the former capital of Bonn. Germany is the most populous country in Europe, with 82 million residents.

The German economy is aligned to the principle of a social market economy. As such, the market is free to govern its own forces within certain limits whilst at the same time preventing the excessive accumulation of market power. The German state creates the framework for functioning competition and moderates between the various interests.