145. In Germany, state authority is divided. For which branch of state authority does a judge work? For the …

Answer options

1. Judiciary.
2. Executive.
3. Press.
4. Legislature.

Explanation

The separation of powers is anchored in the Basic Law: Article 20(2) allocates state authority, and Article 92 vests the judicial power in judges. Judges are independent and subject only to the law (Art. 97); neither the executive nor the legislature may instruct them. The press is not a branch of state power but a constitutionally protected institution under Article 5(1), sometimes metaphorically called the “fourth estate.” Strong judicial independence reflects lessons learned from the Weimar Republic and the National Socialist regime.