Position and Functions of Local Government in Germany’s Federal Multi-level System

After giving a concise view of the distribution of competences and functions in Germany’s federal multi-level system to which, since the creation of the European Union in 1993, a European level has been added. Chapter 2 focuses on and outlines the position and functions which the local government level has in the multi-level setting. Due to the traditional “dual task” model the local authorities carry out self-government tasks as well as tasks “delegated” to them by the Länder which makes them rank among the functionally strongest local government systems in Europe. In conclusion the chapter sketches the institutions and procedures through which the local government level sways the decision-making of the “upper” government levels.