Baden-Württemberg in overview

In the state of Baden-Württemberg were united the states of Baden, Württemberg-Baden and Württemberg-Hohenzollern, newly created after the end of the war in 1945. Based on the Referendum of 9 December 1951 ("Southwest State Referendum"), the new federal state of Baden-Württemberg was constituted on 25 April 1952.

Constitution: The basis of public life in the state is the constitution, which entered into force with its proclamation on 19 November 1953. The state of Baden-Württemberg is a member state of the Federal Republic of Germany. The power of the state comes from the people; it would only in special cases directly exercised by them (popular referendum). As a rule, left to elected officials are:
1. To the Landtag (state parliament) the exercise of the legislative function (Art. 27),
2. To the Regierung (government) the carrying out or enforcement of laws (Art. 45),
3. To the independent courts the oversight of the constitution and the consideration of the laws (Art. 65).

Area (without the Lake Constance share): 35,751 square kilometers. Highest point: the Feldberg (Black Forest) 1,493 meters above sea level. Lowest point: Rhine water mark at Mannheim 85 meters above sea level. The longest rivers: Rhine (within the borders) 402 kilometers, Neckar 367 kilometers, Jagst 203 kilometers, Kocher 182 kilometers, Enz with Nagold 110 kilometers. The largest lakes: Lake Constance 538 square kilometers, Schluchsee 5.1 square kilometers, Federsee 1.5 square kilometers, Titisee 1.1 square kilometers. Area in agricultural use, 42.2%; in forest, 36.5%.

Foreigners 863,485. Population density, 260.9 per square kilometer. Catholic Church, 4,260,708; Evangelical Churches, 3,817,322; others and of no religious preference, 1,248,770. Cities: State Capital of Stuttgart 565,486, Mannheim 294,648, Karlsruhe 268,309, Freiburg 186,156, Heidelberg 136,227, Heilbronn 111,713, Pforzheim 104,452, Ulm 100,745, Reutlingen 100,550 (1987).

In 2000: Total Population 10,476,000 with a density of 293 people per square kilometer; 5,660,152 passenger cars (0.54 per inhabitant); lowest crime rate in Germany

The Landtag (state parliament) is the elected representation of the people. It exercises legislative power and oversees the execution of executive power. The delegates or members of parliament are representatives of all the people. They are not bound by mandate or instructions, and only obligated to their consciences. The delegates to the state assembly that was elected on 9 March 1952 to create the constitution made up the first Landtag.
The factions are the political organizations in which the members of one party are included. Here are formed the political opinions of the delegates of a party for pronouncements and decisions occurring in the plenum and in committees. The government and the delegates have the right to bring forth proposed legislation (legislative initiatives) in the Landtag. The budgetary privilege (household grant) counts as the most important right of the Landtag.
In the 10th Legislative Session (Election of 20 March 1988): 125 state delegates.

The State Government
The government consists of the minister-president and the ministers; the state secretaries and honorary state advisors could be called other members. - The state parliament elects the minister president by a majority of its members. He appoints and dismisses the members of his government (cabinet); he sets policy direction and holds responsibility for it. The government especially decides on legislative proposals, on the state's voting in the Bundesrat (Federal Council, the upper house of the federal legislature), as well as on questions of fundamental importance.

The Administration
The administration is exercised through the government, its subordinate authorities and through the holders of autonomy. - According to the county reform law that entered into force on 1 January 1973, Baden-Württemberg consists of 9 urban districts, 35 counties, 1111 municipalities and 71 large principal cities in the counties. - The areas of the four government districts were given new borders on 1 January 1973. The duties of regional planning are incumbent on the 12 regional associations, which as a rule include 3 to 6 counties.

State Administration
According to the state administration law the administrative authorities are divided into three groups: Highest State Authorities (ministers, auditing court), general administrative authorities (government presidencies), special administrative authorities (e.g., state commerce department, the four higher education offices, finance offices).

Self-Administration
Besides the state administration there is administration by so-called self-administering corporations.

The communities [or, municipalities] are the lowest level of public administration. Administrative organs are the community council and the mayor. The leader of the community administration and the legal representative of the communities is the Bürgermeister (mayor), who is elected by the citizens. In urban districts and large cities in the counties he carries the title of Oberbürgermeister (lord mayor). The administrative authority of the community is the mayor's office.

The counties are as much self-administering corporations as they are state administrative districts. Administrative organs are the popularly elected county parliament, and the Landrat (state councilor), elected by the county parliament. The administrative authority is the Landrat's office.

People with income 4,298,600 (26,626,300)
Employees 3,464,400 (20,407,800)
Of those, 370,700 (1,546,500) foreigners

Employment according to economic categories (in %)
Agriculture and forestry 5.0 (5.3)
Production occupations 47.4 (42.5)
Business and trade 15.6 (18.2)
Other categories 32.0 (34.0)

Structure of production employment:
The most important branches for the state are mechanical engineering, automotive engineering and electrical engineering.

Foreign trade:
Export 95.2 billion DM (526.4), import 57.2 billion DM (424.0). The most important trading partners are France, the USA, Switzerland, Italy, Great Britain, Netherlands.

Personal income 312.8 billion DM (1.994 trillion DM)
Per capita income 33,700 DM (31,800 DM)