German BundesratParliament

The German Bundesrat (Federal Council) is a constitutional legislative body representing the sixteen federal states (Länder) of Germany at the national level. Its mandate is to participate in federal legislation and administration, particularly regarding laws that affect state powers, finances, and constitutional amendments. Established in 1949 under the Basic Law for the Federal Republic of Germany, its conceptual roots trace back to earlier federal bodies of the North German Confederation and the 1871 German Empire. In 2000, it officially moved its seat from Bonn to the former Prussian House of Lords building in Berlin.