The history of Berlin from the 12th century to the present.

Berlin is both a federal state and a city. It therefore fulfils both federal state functions and municipal functions. In keeping with the principles of a democratic state, the powers derived from the people are separated into the executive, legislative and judicative powers. The federal state sends representatives to the German Federal Council, and Berlin’s voters also elect members of the German parliament, the “Bundestag”. The communal level is divided into 23 boroughs, and in the course of borough reform this number will be reduced to 12 units.

Constitution

The constitution of the federal state of Berlin was passed in a referendum on 22nd October 1995 by a majority of 75.1 per cent of those entitled to vote. To a large extent, it extended the validity of the Berlin constitution of 1950. The major changes included the strengthening of enforceable basic rights and the extension of the list of goals of the federal state (including the right to work, education and reasonable residential accommodation). Environmental protection and the protection of the individual from the abuse of computerised data are now fixed in the constitution. The rights of the citizens to participate in direct democracy in the form of as popular initiatives, petitions and referendums were extended. Since 1992, adherence to the constitution has been watched over by the Constitutional Court.