Security measures: how is the Bundestag protected?



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As a constitutional body of the Federal Republic, the German Bundestag enjoys special protection. It has its own police force and is located in an area where assemblies are generally prohibited.

The constitutional bodies of the Federal Republic are specially protected by law. For example, in the immediate vicinity of the Bundestag and Bundesrat in Berlin and the Federal Constitutional Court in Karlsruhe, the basic right to freedom of assembly is restricted.

The terms “Bannmeile”, “Bannkreis” or “Pacified District”, which are often used for specially protected areas, mean the same thing, according to the Scientific Services of the German Bundestag: “These are districts in which public meetings on air free are generally prohibited. “The pacified area around the Bundestag also includes, for example, Pariser Platz in front of the Brandenburg Gate.

Exceptions to the assembly prohibition

This is regulated in the law on pacified districts for federal constitutional bodies (BefBezG). The work of the organs must be guaranteed by the general prohibition of assembly. “They should be able to carry out their activities free of impediments that may arise from meetings,” writes the Federal Ministry of the Interior.

But there are exceptions: meetings can be allowed if this does not impose restrictions on the work of the constitutional bodies or free access to the respective buildings. This can be assumed, for example, in weeks without meetings.

Own police

The Bundestag is a separate police district. Here the president of the Bundestag has housing rights, he also exercises police power.

The police guarantee public security and order and, therefore, the working capacity of parliament and its organs. Police officers are responsible for “all the buildings, rooms and land that are under the administration of the Bundestag, but also for those that the Bundestag only uses temporarily, for example at international conferences,” he says from the parliamentary side.

The exclusive police power of the Bundestag is anchored in the constitution and therefore ensures the principle of the separation of powers, because it protects parliament against the influence of the executive and judicial power. However, the Bundestag police work closely with other local police authorities.

Technical protection

It can be assumed that the Reichstag building is also protected by a number of technical measures. However, for security reasons, the German Bundestag does not provide any information on specific protection measures.


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