Research papers published by the Reference and Research Services of the Deutscher Bundestag

This page sets out the English summaries of the Research Papers published by the Reference and Research Services. A link from the end of the summary will take you to the complete research paper in German.

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As you like it: The Berlin Declaration
Factsheet Europe of 03/27/2007 (3 pages)
Change to the Artists' Social Insurance Act
In its sitting of 22 March 2007, the Bundestag adopted the Third Act to Amend the Artists' Social Insurance Act. The Act provides for a more or less comprehensive register to be kept of organisations and companies liable to pay artists' social insurance contributions, with the help of the German pensions insurance authorities. The in-sured persons themselves are also to be monitored more closely in the future, in or-der to ensure that only those people who are really entitled to do so are insured through artists' social insurance. Artists' social insurance allows freelance artists and writers/journalists to insure themselves in the system of statutory health, pensions and long-term care insurance systems. Those insured only have to pay 50% of con-tributions themselves. Thirty percent of contributions come from what is known as the "social contribution for artists" and 20% takes the form of a federal subsidy. The Act is intended to make the system of contributions more just and place the sys-tem on a stable financial footing in the long term.
Topical Term of 03/26/2007
Existing provisions concerning the "income-splitting system" for married couples and current proposals for reform
The current provisions on "income splitting" for married couples decrease the tax burden on married couples, especially if one of the partners earns significantly more than the other. The Federal Constitutional Court has declared this tax advantage for married couples to be in line with the constitution, since it is not a tax break, but rather an appropriate system of taxation based on the principle of protection of marriage and the family enshrined in Article 6 (1) of the Basic Law and on the economic situation of the married couples. Various alternative proposal on how to tax married couples are currently being discussed amongst policymakers in particular.
Topical Term of 03/21/2007
50 years of the Treaties of Rome
Factsheet Europe of 03/19/2007 (4 pages)
The Treaty of Rome
The Treaty of Rome, signed on 25 March 1957, is viewed as the founding document of the European Union. However, the origins of the European idea go back much further than this. Yet it was only after the Second World War that it was possible to create the necessary momentum for the European integration process through the foundation of the European Economic Community and Euratom and bring about the development of the European peaceful order.
Topical Term of 03/16/2007
The European Atomic Energy Community (EURATOM)
Factsheet Europe of 03/15/2007 (4 pages)
Second Life
Second Life is an Internet-based-virtual world with 4 million registered accounts. It enables its users to interact trough virtual characters called Avatars; the residents of Second Life can explore and build their world, they can meet or deal with other Residents, socialize, participate in individual and group activities. After coming to international attention via media, Second Life becomes more important concerning other sectors such as economy, politics and art. But Second Life has also encountered a number of challenges that range from technical problems to moral issues.
Topical Term of 03/14/2007
From the treaties of the Six to the Union of 27 - the enlargement of the European Communities
Factsheet Europe of 03/14/2007 (5 pages)
The principle of mutual recognition as regards the free movement of goods - Dassonville, Keck, Cassis de Dijon: are the landmark decisions outdated ?
Factsheet Europe of 03/13/2007 (3 pages)
Subsisiarity - a test run for national parliaments
Factsheet Europe of 03/13/2007 (5 pages)
The Middle East Quartet
In April 2002, against the background of a renewed escalation of violence in Israel and Palestine, representatives of the USA, the EU, Russia and the UN met in Madrid to coordinate their Middle East policies and bring new momentum, via a joint initiative, to the stalled peace process. At the same time, they decided to continue their cooperation in the form of regular meetings. This initiative has since been known as the "Middle East Quartet". Probably the most significant result thus far achieved by the Quartet is the "road map" produced in 2003, which was intended to set out the path to lasting peace in the Middle East. Following the failure ? for the time being ? of the road map, the Quartet has continued to seek to inject life into the peace process.
Topical Term of 03/09/2007
Dissolution of the state of Prussia by the Allies sixty years ago
The state of Prussia, which by then existed in name only, was officially abolished by the four Allied occupying powers in Germany in Law No. 46 ("Dissolution of the State of Prussia"), passed by the Allied Control Council on 25 February 1947. This was the end of a state that, from the beginning of the 18th century onwards, at the latest, had played an important role in German and European history for almost 250 years.
Topical Term of 03/07/2007
European agencies
Factsheet Europe of 03/06/2007 (10 pages)
European Research Council (ERC)
Factsheet Europe of 02/27/2007 (3 pages)
Policy Strategy 2008
Factsheet Europe of 02/26/2007 (2 pages)
European critical infrastructure
Factsheet Europe of 02/21/2007 (2 pages)
Redistributional effects due to public funding of universities
The public funding of university education is sometimes said to cause a regressive redistribution of income, meaning that the academically educated "upper classes" draw personal financial profit from their higher education, but society as a whole does not. This is often used as an argument in favour of introducing tuition fees at German universities. This document summarizes existing empirical studies on the redistributional effects of education funding in Germany, compares their methodical approaches, and confronts their conclusions. As a result, it is found that strong dissent persists in the scientific literature on the nature of any redistributional effects. The "regressive redistribution"-argument is therefore found to have a very weak empirical basis.
Composition of 02/20/2007 (30 pages)
2007 Anniversaries
This document concentrates mainly on historical and political anniversaries in 2007. It focuses especially on those events of particular importance for Germany's development. The document was produced as an addition to the paper entitled "Annual days of remembrance" (Selection for 2007) also produced by the German Bundestag.
Documentation of 02/19/2007 (19 pages)
The Federal President?s power to grant pardons
Pardons are traditionally understood as an act of state which "tempers justice with mercy", and which is thus based not on law but on mercy, in the sense of goodwill, as a matter of discretion not regulated by law. The power to grant pardons is intended to balance out hardships and inequities caused by rulings under the Criminal Code. Under Article 60 of the Basic Law (Germany?s constitution), the Federal President has the power to grant pardons; in the Länder, or federal states, this power is held by the institutions specified in the Land constitutions. The power to grant pardons extends to rulings relating to criminal law or which are similar in nature.
Topical Term of 02/15/2007
The ruling by the Federal Constitutional Court on inheritance tax and its implications for the reform of inheritance tax
In its judgement of 7 November 2006 (published on 31 January 2007), the Federal Constitutional Court ruled that existing inheritance and gift tax law is not compatible with the principle of equality laid down in Article 3 of the Basic Law and therefore unconstitutional. In particular, the fact that the value of housing wealth and business assets is calculated in a more favourable manner infringes the principle of equitable taxation. The Federal Constitutional court has now tasked the legislator with revising inheritance and gift taxation law by 31 December 2008. Until that point, the existing provisions will remain applicable. The Federal Government is now examining the extent to which the reform of inheritance and gift taxation already underway, aimed at relieving the tax burden on those who inherit businesses, can be continued in the aftermath of the Federal Constitutional Court Ruling.
Topical Term of 02/15/2007
Gene doping
Gene doping is a new type of doping which is achieved by gene therapy to improve athletic performance. Until now, gene doping was not found during major competitions. However, testing strategies are developed throughout the whole world to prevent gene doping.
Topical Term of 02/14/2007
On the way to an energy action plan for Europe
Factsheet Europe of 02/09/2007 (3 pages)
Deployment of the Bundeswehr on domestic territory
The question of responsibility for such a deployment is controversial. The relevant legislation includes, in particular, the following articles of the constitution, the Basic Law: 35 (legal and administrative assistance), 87 a (armed forces) and 91 (aversion of danger to the basic order of the Federation). These articles are briefly explained.
Topical Term of 02/07/2007
More transparency in the European Council
Factsheet Europe of 02/02/2007 (2 pages)
Priorities of the German EU Presidency in the Southern Mediterranean - an overview
Factsheet Europe of 02/01/2007 (5 pages)
The National Stability Pact
The Topical Term "The National Stability Pact" examines, against the background of the joint Commission on the Modernisation of Federation-Länder Financial Relations established on 15 December 2006, the deficiencies of the current financial rules enshrined in the constitution on avoiding and dealing with budgetary crises and limiting public debt in Germany. At the same time, the Topical Term sets out solutions proposed by the academic community and organisations responsible for providing policy advice regarding the creation of a National Stability Pact.
Topical Term of 01/30/2007
The euro's international performance
The euro's international performance is generally established using the following criteria: use as a means of payment, use as a unit of account and use as a value-storing unit. Overall, the euro's performance since its introduction in 1999 has been good. The significance of the euro as a trade, investment, anchor and reserve currency has increased. Nevertheless, the US dollar's domination as a key currency remains unbroken in almost all areas.
Topical Term of 01/29/2007
The evaluation of the Hartz I ? III labour-market reforms ? an overview
The Laws for Modern Services in the Labour Market (Hartz I ? III) represent a comprehensive reform of employment promotion measures which took place between 2002 and 2004. Following an interim report in Spring 2006, the Federal Government has now presented its final report on the new provisions on 20.12.2006. This report shows that some of the reforms have been successful, whilst others are on the right path. Criticism is expressed in some areas, however.
Factsheet of 01/29/2007 (15 pages)
Legal questions on religious and ideological communities
The office recently opened by the Scientology Organisation in the capital city of Berlin has revived the dispute over observation by the Berlin authority for protection of the constitution. The "Topical term" factsheet lists those Länder, or federal states, in which the organisation has been placed under observation in the last few years. It also summarises the statements which have been made by various courts on the status of the organisation as a religious or ideological community.
Topical Term of 01/29/2007
The Minister-Presidents of the Free State of Bavaria since 1945
The Federal Republic of Germany is a federal state which consists of 16 Länder, or states. The Länder participate in Germany?s political system. The Free State of Bavaria is the largest Land in geographical terms. Under the Bavarian constitution, the state government is headed by a Minister-President elected by the Land Parliament for a five-year term of office. He or she determines the general guidelines of policy, appoints the ministers and state secretaries and represents Bavaria externally. Since 1945 there have been eight Minister-Presidents of the Free State of Bavaria to date. With the exception of Wilhelm Hoegner (Social Democratic Party of Germany), all Bavarian Minister-Presidents thus far have been members of the Christian Social Union (CSU).
Topical Term of 01/26/2007
Federal share of the cost of accommodation/heating benefits under Article 46, Book II of the Social Code
Under Book II of the Social Code, the municipalities are obliged to bear the cost of necessary accommodation and heating benefits within the framework of the basic income for jobseekers. In order to ensure that the burden on the municipalities is reduced by around 2.5bn euros per annum by the Fourth Law for Modern Services in the Labour Market (Hartz IV), taking into account the savings for the Länder (federal states) of around 2.5bn euros per annum, the Federation pays a certain percentage of these costs. The First Act to Amend the Second Book of the Social Code of 22 December 2005, obliged the Federation to cover 29.1% of the costs of accommodation and heating for recipients of the basic income for jobseekers in 2005 and 2006. New provisions in the framework of a federal law were planned for the years from 2007 onwards. This Act to Amend the Second Book of the Social Code entered into force on 1 January 2007. The Federation's contribution for 14 of the Länder, or states, has been set at 31.2% for 2007. For Baden-Württemberg, the level is at 35.2% and for Rhineland-Palatinate 41.2%. From 2008, the Federation's contribution will be calculated each year depending on the number of eligible households, in line with mathematical formula laid down by law. New provisions governing the Federation's contribution from 2011 onwards will be introduced by a federal law.
Topical Term of 01/25/2007
CFSP, ESDP and their instruments - an overview
Factsheet Europe of 01/22/2007 (8 pages)
Impacts of European law on church employment law
EU anti-discrimination law which was implemented in Germany through the General Equal Treatment Act has a significant potential to influence the employment law of the churches, whose constitutionally guaranteed right of self-determination is not as strong at EU level as in Germany. The study gives a brief overview of the impacts of the law at European level on church employment law.
Composition of 01/18/2007 (17 pages)
The state of research into and the potential of embryonic and adult stem cells
As stem cells have the ability to form new somatic cells, research into them primarily aims to examine to what extent they can replace damaged cells, tissue or organs, repair them or induce them to repair themselves. Adult stem cells are used in the treatment of certain forms of leukaemia; clinical studies testing their effects on other conditions are being carried out. Stem cells from umbilical cord blood are used to treat certain forms of leukaemia which occur during childhood. Regarding embryonic stem cells, attempts are being made to derive cell lines which come closer to meeting the requirements for clinical studies than previous cell lines. In 2006 two embryonic stem cell lines were derived which are free of impurities and which were cultivated in defined conditions.
Composition of 01/17/2007 (18 pages)
EU and Globalization
Factsheet Europe of 01/15/2007 (5 pages)
Legal requirements relating to efforts to save the Constitution for Europe
The Topical Term sets out the fundamental legal conditions that must be taken into account when considering how to save the Constitution for Europe. In addition, it features a table providing an overview of the status of the ratification process in the EU Member States.
Topical Term of 01/08/2007

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