11. What is the constitution of the Federal Republic of Germany called?

Answer options

1. Basic Law
2. Federal Constitution
3. Law code
4. Constitutional treaty

Explanation

The constitution is called the Basic Law because, when adopted in 1949 by the Parliamentary Council, it was deliberately framed as a provisional order for West Germany, open to future unification (Preamble), and it entered into force on 23 May 1949. It places fundamental rights first and binds all public authority to the constitution and law (Arts. 1–20), with core principles entrenched by the eternity clause in Article 79(3). After reunification in 1990, the Basic Law was continued as the all-German constitution pursuant to the Unification Treaty and Article 146; its guardian is the Federal Constitutional Court.