Procedures
Administrative Court Procedure Under the VwGO
German administrative court procedure is governed by the Administrative Court Code (Verwaltungsgerichtsordnung, VwGO) of 21 January 1960. The VwGO establishes a comprehensive system of judicial review …
Civil Procedure in Germany: ZPO and Civil Litigation
German civil procedure is governed by the Zivilprozessordnung (ZPO), the Code of Civil Procedure, enacted in 1877 and substantially reformed in 2002. The ZPO establishes the rules for civil litigation …
Criminal Procedure in Germany: StPO and Criminal Procedure
German criminal procedure is governed by the Strafprozessordnung (StPO), the Code of Criminal Procedure, enacted in 1877 and extensively amended since. The StPO regulates the conduct of criminal …
Specialized Court Jurisdictions (Fachgerichtsbarkeit) in Germany
The German court system is characterised by specialised jurisdictions (Fachgerichtsbarkeit), each with its own procedural code, hierarchy of courts, and area of substantive competence. Alongside the …
The Constitutional Complaint (Verfassungsbeschwerde) Procedure
The constitutional complaint (Verfassungsbeschwerde) is the central remedy for the protection of fundamental rights in the German legal order. Governed by Article 93(1)(4a) of the Grundgesetz and …
The Verfassungsbeschwerde: Constitutional Complaint Procedure
The constitutional complaint (Verfassungsbeschwerde) is the most important remedy before the Federal Constitutional Court. Article 93(1)(4a) of the Grundgesetz and sections 90–95 of the Federal …
Types of Constitutional Review Before the Federal Constitutional Court
The Federal Constitutional Court (Bundesverfassungsgericht) exercises several distinct types of constitutional review, each with its own procedural rules, standing requirements, and legal effects. The …