146. What is a legal proceeding before a court called in Germany?

Answer options

1. Program
2. Procedure
3. Record of proceedings (protocol)
4. Trial (court case)

Explanation

In German legal usage, “Prozess” denotes a court proceeding—especially civil and criminal trials—while administrative matters are likewise termed the administrative process (Verwaltungsprozess). Its structure rests on the Imperial Justice Laws of 1877 (GVG, ZPO, StPO) and modern procedural codes such as the VwGO. Constitutionally, trials are shaped by the rule-of-law principle (Art. 20(3) Basic Law) and guarantees like the lawful judge (Art. 101(1) sentence 2) and the right to be heard (Art. 103(1)), complemented by Article 6 ECHR. Terms such as “procedure” or “protocol” refer to general methods or the official record, not the judicial proceeding itself.