Germany

Germany is a country in north-western continental Europe that is a major political and economic player in its relations with the wider world. With a population of 83 million people today, the region the modern Federal Republic of Germany (Bundesrepublik Deutschland) now covers has historically been a cultural crossroads, particularly in literature and music, and later in science and technology. Its standard language, 'High' German, remains a lingua franca in much of Europe, and its speakers represent their nation as full participants in such international arenas as the United Nations, the European Union, NATO and the G8. As well as having the highest population, Germany is the third largest economy in the world by GDP and the biggest in Europe.

Germany has existed in its current form only since 1990, when West Germany and its Soviet neighbour East Germany were reunited, following their 1949 division by the 'Iron Curtain' separating Western nations from countries under the Soviet Union's sphere of influence. As a republic, Germany was formed from the ashes of the German Empire following its defeat in World War I, but the new Weimar Republic crumbled amid economic instability, allowing the rise of the Nazis. Defeat in World War II was followed by the east-west split.

Today, German is a democratic and federal republic, meaning that its 16 constituent states can exercise devolved power, and their representatives form the upper chamber of parliament; as in other bicameral systems, this Bundesrat is not as powerful as the Bundestag, the directly elected lower house. Otherwise, Germany's system is dissimilar to other two-chamber democracies because the upper house is only indirectly elected, its members being appointed by elected local governments. Germany's head of government - Angela Merkel since 2005 - is known as the Chancellor (Kanzler), who is usually the chair of the largest political party in the Bundestag; however, the holder must be elected by a majority of all members. Except in time of war, neither the Chancellor nor the President of Germany (Bundespräsident) head the armed forces, a role normally occupied by the Minister of Defence. The President, by convention, exercises only ceremonial duties; limited powers invested in the position can mostly be overruled by parliament. As with his recent predecessors, President Horst Köhler was elected by an assembly of Bundestag members and state representatives in 2004.