On 17 April 1951, the Federal Constitutional Court Act entered into force. It lays down the organisation and procedures of the Federal Constitutional Court and specifies in which instances the Court’s decisions have the force of law (cf. Art. 94(4) of the Basic Law).
The Rules of Procedure of the Federal Constitutional Court are adopted by the Plenary (§ 1(3) of the Federal Constitutional Court Act). They govern the organisation and administration of the Federal Constitutional Court and contain supplementary procedural provisions.