Federal Constitutional Court
| Federal Constitutional Court | |
|---|---|
 |
|
| Established | 1951 |
| Country | Federal Republic of Germany |
| Location | Karlsruhe, Germany |
| Coordinates | 49°00′45″N 8°24′06″E / 49.012422°N 8.40161°ECoordinates: 49°00′45″N 8°24′06″E / 49.012422°N 8.40161°E |
| Composition method | Bundestag or Bundesrat appointment |
| Authorized by | Basic Law of Germany (Grundgesetz) |
| Judge term length | 12 years (mandatory retirement at 68) |
| No. of positions | 16, halved into two Senates |
| Website | bundesverfassungsgericht.de (en) |
| President of the Court | |
| Currently | Andreas Voßkuhle |
| Since | March 2010 |
The Federal Constitutional Court (German: Bundesverfassungsgericht; abbreviated: BVerfG) is the supreme constitutional court for the Federal Republic of Germany, established by the constitution or Basic Law (Grundgesetz) of Germany. Since its inception with the beginning of the post-WW2 republic, the court has been located in the city of Karlsruhe—intentionally distanced from the other federal institutions in Berlin (earlier in Bonn) and other cities.
The main task of the court is judicial review, and it may declare legislation unconstitutional, thus rendering them ineffective. In this respect, it is similar to other supreme courts with judicial review powers, yet the court possesses a number of additional powers, and is regarded as among the most interventionist and powerful national courts in the world. Unlike other supreme courts, the constitutional court is not an integral stage of the judicial or appeals process (aside from cases concerning constitutional or public international law), and does not serve as a regular appellate court from lower courts or the Federal Supreme Courts on any violation of federal laws.
The court's jurisdiction is focused on constitutional issues and the compliance of all governmental institutions with the constitution. Constitutional amendments or changes passed by the Parliament are subject to its judicial review, since they have to be compatible with the most basic principles of the Grundgesetz defined by the eternity clause.
The court's practice of enormous constitutional control frequency on the one hand, and the continuity in judicial restraint and political revision on the other hand, have created a unique defender of the Grundgesetz since World War II and given it a significant role in Germany's modern democracy.
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