98. If members of the German Bundestag change their parliamentary group, ...

Answer options

1. 1. the government may lose its majority.
2. 2. they are no longer permitted to participate in sittings of Parliament.
3. 3. the Federal President must first give his/her consent.
4. 4. the voters of these members are allowed to vote again.

Explanation

Under Article 38(1) of the Basic Law, members of the Bundestag hold a free mandate, not bound by instructions; the seat belongs to the individual, not the party. A change of parliamentary group (or leaving a group) is therefore constitutionally permissible and does not entail loss of the mandate or a by-election; the Federal President has no role in this. Politically, such shifts can alter coalition arithmetic so that the Federal Government may lose its majority; government formation and removal are governed by Articles 63 and 67 GG (constructive vote of no confidence). Participation in plenary sittings remains guaranteed, though non-attached members may have reduced procedural rights under the Rules of Procedure.