6533b82bfe1ef96bd128e41c

RESEARCH PRODUCT

German self-governance. Thirty years of constitutional and structural changes in reunified Germany

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Local government is one of the most important institutions of a democracy based on the nile of law in Germany. Its position and role were shaped immediately after the end of World War II. This paper aims to present and evaluate tire constitutional and structural changes that have taken place in German local government within the 30years of the post-unification period. The present study is based on the hypothesis that the constitutional and structural changes of German local government in the past 30years have aimed to make its bodies and institutions Work more effectively as well as to strengthen and deepen democracy, thus increasing its impact on the federal government. These changes have not resulted in the development of a uniform legal system and model of local government in the entire country of Germany. The constitutional and structural transformations of German local govermnent can be analysed front the point of view of political, legal, historical and geographical science as this issue is multidimensional and diverse in nature. Therefore, various research methodologies have been used in the present study; these include methods employed in historical Sciences, a statistical method, a systems analysis method. an institutional and legał analysis method, a decision-making method and a deductive method, as well as research procedures such as the review of documents, analysis and criticism of the existing literature and secondary analysis of other authors' research findings. It has been found that the constitutional and structural transformations ofGerman local government which took place as a result of non-unifted reforms did not leadto the developnient ofa uniform body of legislation concerning local government for the entire country, despite the sirnilarity of many legal Solutions. These changes have resulted in the more effective management of various forms of self-government, the development of democracy and citizens' greater impact on the federal government.