Joint Committee
Composition and competencies of the Joint Committee: Article 53(a) of the Basic Law
The Joint Committee of the Bundesrat and the Bundestag has 48 members, two thirds of whom are Members of the German Bundestag and one third members of the Bundesrat. The Joint Committee is intended to act as Germany’s emergency parliament if insurmountable obstacles prevent the Bundestag from assembling in good time when a state of defence is declared.