Concepts
Eigentum: The Concept of Property in German Law
The concept of property (Eigentum) in German law operates on two distinct but interrelated levels. Private law property is governed by the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), which defines ownership as the …
Fundamental Rights (Grundrechte) Under the Grundgesetz
Fundamental rights (Grundrechte) occupy the apex of the German legal order. Articles 1 to 19 of the Grundgesetz enshrine a comprehensive catalogue of individual rights that bind all branches of state …
Good Faith (Treu und Glauben) in German Private Law
The principle of good faith (Treu und Glauben) is the most important general clause in German private law. Codified in section 242 of the Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), it provides that a debtor is …
Privatautonomie: Private Autonomy in German Law
Private autonomy (Privatautonomie) is the foundational principle of German private law. It denotes the power of individuals to regulate their legal relationships by their own volition, through …
Proportionality as a Constitutional Principle
The principle of proportionality (Verhältnismäßigkeit) is the central doctrinal tool for testing the constitutional justification of state action in German law. It requires that any interference with …
The Abstract Principle (Abstraktionsprinzip) in German Property Law
The abstract principle (Abstraktionsprinzip) is a distinctive feature of German property law. It separates the obligatory contract from the real agreement effecting a transfer of property. This …
The Concept of the Rechtsstaat (Constitutional State)
The Rechtsstaat principle is a foundational element of the German constitutional order. Article 20(1) of the Grundgesetz declares the Federal Republic to be a constitutional state (Rechtsstaat). The …
The German Civil Law System and the BGB
Germany belongs to the civil law tradition, a legal system derived from Roman law and characterised by comprehensive codification. The Bürgerliches Gesetzbuch (BGB), the German Civil Code, is the …
The German Legal Profession
The German legal profession is characterised by a unified system of legal education, distinct career paths, and a strong tradition of professional regulation. Unlike common law systems where law is …
The Proportionality Doctrine (Verhältnismäßigkeit) in German Law
The proportionality doctrine (Verhältnismäßigkeit) is the central analytical framework for constitutional review of state action in German law. It governs the justifiability of interferences with …
The Rechtsstaat Principle Under the Grundgesetz
The Rechtsstaat principle is the constitutional anchor of the German legal order, requiring that all state power be exercised within the bounds of law and justice. Codified in Article 20(3) of the …
The Social State Principle (Sozialstaatsprinzip) Under the Grundgesetz
The social state principle (Sozialstaatsprinzip) is a fundamental structural principle of the German constitutional order. Article 20(1) of the Grundgesetz declares the Federal Republic a democratic …