18 Art. 20 GG: Preface

Abstract

This chapter provides an overview of three of the central structural principles of the German state and legal system that are found in Art. 20 of the Grundgesetz (GG): the republic principle, the democracy principle, and the federalism principle. Also included in this group of general principles is the rule of law principle, which is implicitly contained in Art. 20 para. 3 GG. The structural principles and state goals articulated in Art. 20 GG serve three primary functions: first, as foundational norms which serve as a catch-all standard for evaluating subjects not specifically regulated by GG; second, as interpretive guidelines for other provisions of GG and for the application of (statutory) laws; and third, as classification categories to which sub-principles are assigned, including the principle of proportionality. These structural principles and state goals are often in tension; a means of reconciling them is by using the concept of practical concordance.