The Bundestag — Still the Centre of Decision-Making?

From a comparative perspective the Bundestag has been called the ‘most powerful legislature in Europe’.1 In this context it has been emphasised that the structure of the German parliament became more similar to the American Congress. Indeed, the Bundestag has copied some of the American features of the legislature: the hearings, strong powers of inquiry for parliament, and a sophisticated infrastructure for parliamentary work by increasing the staff which works for the committees. Certainly, the German Bundestag approached the American Congress in creating one of the best documentary and statistical services of parliamentary activities to be found in Western Europe.