49. Who determines school policy in Germany?

Answer options

1. the teachers (male and female)
2. the Länder (federal states)
3. the Ministry for Family Affairs
4. the universities

Explanation

Under Articles 30 and 70 of the Basic Law, legislative competence for schooling lies primarily with the Länder, a principle known as the Länder’s cultural sovereignty (Kulturhoheit). Article 7 GG provides for state supervision of schools, which in practice is exercised by the Länder and coordinated through the Standing Conference of the Ministers of Education (KMK). The Federation has only narrowly defined roles, e.g., in science and research (Art. 91b GG) and—since the federalism reforms—limited co-financing of educational infrastructure (Art. 104c GG), reflecting a partial relaxation of the former cooperation ban. Historically, this allocation of powers was a deliberate response to Nazi-era centralization (Gleichschaltung) and a return to the federal traditions of the Weimar Republic.