327. Which federal state is a city-state?

Answer options

1. Berlin
2. Saarland
3. Brandenburg
4. Hesse

Explanation

A city-state under the Basic Law is a Land whose territory coincides with a single municipality; in Germany these are Berlin, Hamburg, and Bremen (including Bremerhaven). Berlin combines Land and municipal competences within a unitary municipality; its boroughs have only limited, derivative self-government (Article 28 GG). Historically, this status reflects the traditions of the free cities and the 1920 Greater Berlin Act, and Berlin’s special Four-Power status ended with the 1990 Unification Treaty.