The Federal Constitutional Court

Learn more about the Federal Constitutional Court’s duties and status, its structure and its relations to other courts.

Court and Constitutional Organ

The Federal Constitutional Court consists of two Senates, each of them with eight Justices. As a constitutional organ, it is independently organised.

Image: Basic Law of the Federal Republic of Germany

The Court’s Duties

The Federal Constitutional Court is considered the “guardian of the Basic Law”. Its duties include to authoritatively interpret the Basic Law and to ensure enforcement of the fundamental rights.

Structure

The members of the Court are assisted by four research assistants (or “clerks”) each, and by the Court administration.

Image: Library of the Federal Constitutional Court

The in-house library, which specialises on public law, constitutional and administrative law, general theory of state and of society, as well as politics and contemporary history, holds about 400,000 volumes.

International Perspectives

The Federal Constitutional Court engages in exchanges with the Supreme Federal Courts, constitutional courts abroad and international courts.

Image: Portraits of the Former Justices of the Federal Constitutional Court

History

The Federal Constitutional Court has existed since 1951. Learn more about the milestones of its history.

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