Institutions and Institutional Change in the Federal Republic of Germany

LUDGER HELMS is Assistant Professor of Political Science at the Humboldt University of Berlin. He was formerly a lecturer at the University of Heidelberg and the Insatiate for Advanced Studies in Vienna as well as a visiting researcher in the Department of Government at the London School of Economics. He has published widely on various aspects of comparative politics in such journals as German Politics, German Politics and Society, and West European Politics. His most recent book is Executives in Western Democracies.

'This study assembles some of the leading figures in German political science, who provide a state-of-the-art review of German political institutions and their response to unification. It should be a valuable resource for those studying German politics and the broader theme of the role of institutions in shaping the democratic process.' - Russell J. Dalton, Professor, Department of Political Science, University of California, Irvine

• List of Figures and Tables Preface List of Contributors Introduction: Institutional Change and Adaptation in a Stable Democracy; L.Helms The Bundestag - Still the Centre of Decision-making?; K.von Beyme The Federal Presidency: Parameters of Presidential Power in a Parliamentary Democracy; W.Rudzio The Federal Government: Variations of Chancellor Dominance; K.Niclauss The Federal Constitutional Court: Institutionalising Judicial Review in a Semisovereign Democracy; L.Helms The Federal System: Breaking Through the Barriers of Interlocking Federalism? R.Sturm The Electoral System: More Continuity than Change; E.Jesse Monetary Institutions: Maintaining Independence in Times of Fiscal Stress; U.Wagschal Parties and the Party System: Pluralisation and Functional Change within Limits: O.Niedermayer Interest Groups: Continuity and Change of German Lobbyism since 1974; M.Sebaldt Index