I'm back after a long hiatus, thanks for your patience. I've just had tons of work lately on many different projects, and I needed to figure out how to fit in time for the blog. This post will be about German prison sentences, specifically the longest ones for the most serious crimes. Before that, though,… Continue reading What’s the Maximum Punishment under German Criminal Law?
Category: Federal Constitutional Court
German Word of the Week: Reichsbürger
Before committing a racist mass-shooting in Hanau, Germany, the schizophrenic killer, Tobias R., had sent a petition (g) to the German Federal Prosecutor's Office asking them to initiate formal legal proceedings against the shadowy "intelligence service" which was tracking, stealing, and broadcasting his thoughts. This raised the issue of how, and whether, authorities should respond… Continue reading German Word of the Week: Reichsbürger
The Federal Constitutional Court Eviscerates German Welfare Law. Or does it?
In 2005, the German Bundestag revolutionized social welfare law with the so-called Hartz IV(g) reforms. These reforms were pushed through by former Social Democratic German Chancellor Gerhard Schroeder, and quite possibly ended his political career. The reason? They tightened eligibility criteria, capped the amount of benefits people could receive, and tied the benefits to "cooperation"… Continue reading The Federal Constitutional Court Eviscerates German Welfare Law. Or does it?
What to Do About Germany’s Ever-Expanding Parliament?
The lower house of Germany's federal parliament, the Bundestag, now has 709 members, making it the second-largest parliament in the world. This is over 100 more members than the 598 seats Germany's voting laws formally provide for. Why is the Bundestag growing? To understand this, you have to understand German federal election law. Here's a… Continue reading What to Do About Germany’s Ever-Expanding Parliament?
A “Justice Offensive” to Legalize Marijuana in Germany
The German Hemp Federation (GHF), a German marijuana-legalization lobby, has started what it calls a "justice offensive" (g) to convince the German Federal Constitutional Court (FCC) to declare laws against marijuana unconstitutional. The current state of play in Germany is that it is illegal nationwide, under § 29 (g) of the Narcotics Law, to possess… Continue reading A “Justice Offensive” to Legalize Marijuana in Germany