86. Who elects the Federal President in Germany?

Answer options

1. the Federal Convention (Bundesversammlung)
2. the Federal Council (Bundesrat)
3. the federal parliament
4. the Federal Constitutional Court

Explanation

Under Article 54 of the Basic Law, the Federal President is elected by the Federal Convention without debate. This ad hoc body comprises the members of the Bundestag and an equal number of delegates chosen by the Länder parliaments by proportional representation, thereby expressing the federal character of the state. Voting is by secret ballot; an absolute majority is required in the first two ballots, while a relative majority suffices in the third. The indirect election mechanism reflects lessons from the Weimar era, deliberately eschewing plebiscitary legitimacy and curbing presidential dominance.