Bürgerschaft of Bremen


The Bremische Bürgerschaft is the legislative branch of the Free Hanseatic City of Bremen in Germany. The state parliament elects the members of the Senate, exercises oversight of the executive, and passes legislation. It currently consists of 83 members from seven parties. The current majority is a coalition of the Social Democratic Party, Alliance '90/The Greens and The Left, supporting Mayor and Senate president Andreas Bovenschulte. The 68 delegates of the city of Bremen also form the Stadtbürgerschaft, while Bremerhaven has its own local parliament.

Current composition

After the elections of 26 May 2019, the composition of the Bürgerschaft is as follows:
PartySeats
Christian Democratic Union 24
Social Democratic Party 23
Alliance '90/The Greens 16
The Left 10
Alternative for Germany 5
Free Democratic Party 5
Citizens in Rage 1

Composition
PartySeats
Social Democratic Party 30
Christian Democratic Union 19
Alliance '90/The Greens 12
The Left 8
Free Democratic Party 7
Liberal Conservative Reformers 1
Alternative for Germany 1
Citizens in Rage 3
Independent2

After the elections of 10 May 2015, the composition of the Bürgerschaft is as follows:
PartySeats
Social Democratic Party 30
Christian Democratic Union 20
Alliance '90/The Greens 14
The Left 8
Free Democratic Party 6
Alliance for Progress and Renewal 3
Alternative for Germany 1
Citizens in Rage 1

Elections are conducted using proportional representation systems in both voting districts Bremen and Bremerhaven, with a minimum of 5% vote share per voting district to receive any seats. The 5% rule is used separately, thus allowing the German People's Union to join the Bürgerschaft by winning 5.7% of the votes in Bremerhaven while winning only 2.75% in the whole state of Bremen.
The 68 members from Bremen also form the Stadtbürgerschaft, which is elected by an extended electorate: the minimum age for voting is 16 instead of 18 and all citizens of the European Union are allowed to vote. It is the only German state parliament with a 4-year, rather than 5-year term. These additional votes created a green Stadtbürgerschaft-only member and a SPD non-Stadtbürgerschaft member from Bremen after the 2003 elections.
In 1979, the Bremer Grüne Liste managed to join the Bürgerschaft, thus being the first Green Party to ever enter a German Landtag.

Presidents of the Bürgerschaft

So far, the presidents of the Landtag of Bremen have been:
The House of the Parliament officially opened in September 1966. Bremen’s parliament building is called ‘Haus der Bürgerschaft’. The building has a frame construction of iron-reinforced concrete. The sheathing of glass has been hung in front of this construction. The height of the building is approximately that of the level of the eaves of both the Town Hall und the house 'Schütting'. The folded roof was a compromise solution conceived as a means for converging and linking the building with the older buildings surrounding the historic market square. The facade of the parliament building reflects the old buildings in the mirror-like surface of the glass sheathing. Artificial reliefs made of aluminum highlight the window sills.