The Presidium of the Bundestag is responsible for the routine administration of the Bundestag, including its clerical and research activities. The presidium consists of the President of the Bundestag and varying number of Vice Presidents, currently four.
Composition
The presidium is elected by the Bundestag at its first meeting after an election; by tradition, the largest faction in the Bundestag has the right to nominate a candidate for the post of president. On the first two ballots, a nominee needs a majority of all Bundestag members in order to be elected; on the third ballot a plurality (more yes than no votes) is sufficient. The president's term ends with the end of the legislature, but they can be re-elected, as long as they are re-elected as member of the Bundestag and, de facto, as long as their faction remains the largest.
Besides the president, the presidium also includes a varying number of vice presidents, who are also elected at the first session of each legislative period (according to the same majority-conditions).
Until 1994, the number and distribution of Vice Presidents among the factions was not regulated in the standing rules, but was negotiated at the beginning of each legislative session. In the 1st Bundestag (1949–1953), two Vice Presidents were elected, one each for the second and third largest factions (SPD and FDP); in the 2nd Bundestag (1953–1957), three Vice Presidents were elected, with the three largest factions each providing one (CDU/CSU, SPD and FDP). In the 3rd Bundestag (1957–1961), the same procedure was initially followed, but later the fourth-largest faction (DP/FVP) was also granted a Vice President. From the 4th to the 9th Bundestag (1961–1983), only three factions were represented in Parliament (CDU/CSU, SPD and FDP); during this period, the custom developed of electing four Vice Presidents, with the second-largest faction providing two and the others one each. This was maintained in the 10th, 11th and 12th Bundestag (1983–1994), although further factions were again represented with Alliance 90/The Greens and (from the 12th Bundestag) the PDS. Although these factions put forward their own candidates for the presidium, they had no chance due to the agreement of the other factions.
At the beginning of the 13th Bundestag (1994–1998), the election of the Vice Presidents was then regulated in the standing rules: Since then, the number of vice presidents to be elected must be at least equal to the number of factions, and each faction has the right to propose a candidate for one of the positions, against whom no opposing candidate can be brought forward. However, each individual vice president must still be elected by the entire house. If a faction fails to nominate a candidate who receives majority support, it cannot fill its seat on the Presidium, which then remains vacant. Since first entering the Bundestag in 2017, the far-right AfD faction's candidates for the presidium have never been elected. They filed a lawsuit against this regulation, which the Federal Constitutional Court upheld in 2022; the court clarified that the factions have a right to nominate for positions in the presidium, but that this nomination is subject to the condition of election.https://www.bundesverfassungsgericht.de/SharedDocs/Pressemitteilungen/DE/2022/bvg22-026.html
Optionally, the Bundestag can decide to elect additional vice presidents. Since 1994, this has happened twice; in the 16th Bundestag (2005–2009), the SPD was allowed to nominate a second Vice President following inter-party agreement;https://www.faz.net/aktuell/politik/inland/bundestagspraesidium-thierse-will-offenbar-lammerts-stellvertreter-werden-1281680.html in the 18th Bundestag (2013–2017), the CDU/CSU and SPD-factions were each allowed to nominate a second Vice President.
The standing rules of the Bundestag also stipulate that in the event of the absence or vacancy of the entire Presidium, the President by right of age shall chair the session. Up to and including the 18th Bundestag (2013–2017), this was the oldest member; since the 19th Bundestag (2017–2021), it has been the longest-serving member of the Bundestag. This rule is of particular relevance in the first session of each legislative term until the election of the President.
1st Bundestag (1949−1953)
President Period FactionErich KöhlerHermann Ehlers7 September 1949 − 18 October 195019 October 1950 − 6 October 1953CDU/CSUCDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionCarlo SchmidHermann Schäfer7 September 1949 − 6 October 19537 September 1949 − 6 October 1953SPDFDP President by right of age Period FactionPaul Löbe7 September 1949– 6 October 1953SPD
Erich Köhler resigned as President of the Bundestag on 18 October 1950 in the wake of cross-party criticism of his conduct of office. Hermann Ehlers was elected as his successor on 19 October.
2nd Bundestag (1953−1957)
President Period FactionHermann EhlersEugen Gerstenmaier6 September 1953 − 29 October 195416 November 1954 − 15 October 1957CDU/CSUCDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard JaegerCarlo SchmidLudwig SchneiderMax Becker6 September 1953 − 15 October 19576 September 1953 − 15 October 19576 September 1953− 15 October 19574 July 1956 − 15 October 1957CDU/CSUSPDFDP/FVPFDP President by right of age Period FactionKonrad Adenauer6 September 1953 – 15 October 1957CDU/CSU Konrad Adenauer refrained from presiding over the opening session due to his position as Chancellor. Therefore, the second oldest member, Marie Elisabeth Lüders (FDP, 1878–1966), presided over the opening session until the election of the president was concluded.
Hermann Ehlers died on 29 October 1954. On 16 November 1954, Eugen Gerstenmaier was elected to the vacant post.
As Ludwig Schneider left the FDP parliamentary group on February 23, 1956 during the legislative period to co-found the FVP, Max Becker (FDP) was elected to the presidency unopposed on July 4, 1956. As Ludwig Schneider did not resign, the number of vice presidents increased to four.
3rd Bundestag (1957−1961)
President Period FactionEugen Gerstenmaier15 October 1957 − 17 October 1961CDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard JaegerCarlo SchmidMax BeckerThomas DehlerVictor-Emanuel Preusker15 October 1957 − 17 October 196115 October 1957 − 17 October 196115 October 1957 − 29 July 196028 September 1960 − 17 October 196123 April 1958 − 4 October 1960CDU/CSUSPDFDPFDPDP/FVP President by right of age Period FactionKonrad Adenauer15 October 1957 − 17 October 1961CDU/CSU
Konrad Adenauer refrained from presiding over the opening session due to his position as Chancellor. Therefore, the second oldest member, Marie Elisabeth Lüders (FDP, 1878–1966), presided over the opening session until the election of the president was concluded. On 18 April 1958 President of the Bundestag Eugen Gerstenmaier had to give up the chairmanship of the session without one of the Vice Presidents being present at the time. Kurt Pohle, the fifteenth oldest and oldest member present at the time, took over the chairmanship for a short time until Vice President Carlo Schmid arrived and replaced him.Plenary records of the German Bundestag, 3rd legislative term, 23rd session, 18 April 1958, pp. 1260–1272, online
4th Bundestag (1961−1965)
President Period FactionEugen Gerstenmaier17 October 1961 − 19 October 1965CDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard JaegerCarlo SchmidErwin SchoettleThomas Dehler17 October 1961 − 19 October 196517 October 1961 − 19 October 196517 October 1961 − 19 October 196517 October 1961 − 19 October 1965CDU/CSUSPDSPDFDP President by right of age Period FactionKonrad Adenauer17 October 1961 − 19 October 1965CDU/CSU
Konrad Adenauer refrained from presiding over the opening session due to his position as Chancellor. Therefore, the second oldest member, Robert Pferdmenges (CDU/CSU, 1880–1962), presided over the opening session until the election of the president was concluded.
5th Bundestag (1965–1969)
President Period FactionEugen GerstenmaierKai-Uwe von Hassel19 October 1965−23 January 19695 February 1969–28 September 1969CDU/CSUCDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard JaegerMaria ProbstRichard JaegerCarlo SchmidKarl MommerThomas DehlerWalter ScheelErwin Schoettle19 October 1965–26 October 19659 December 1965–1 May 196711 May 1967–28 September 196919 October 1965−1 December 196614 December 1965−28 September 196919 October 1965−21 July 19678 September 1967−28 September 196919 October 1965−28 September 1969CDU/CSUCDU/CSUCDU/CSUSPD (1st)SPD (1st)FDPFDPSPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionKonrad AdenauerArthur Enk19 October 1965–19 April 196719 April 1967–28 September 1969CDU/CSUCDU/CSU
6th Bundestag (1969−1972)
President Period FactionKai-Uwe von Hassel1969−1972CDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionCarlo SchmidRichard JaegerLiselotte FunckeHermann Schmitt-Vockenhausen1969−19721969−19721969−19721969−1972SPD (1st)CDU/CSUFDPSPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionWilliam Borm1969–1972FDP
7th Bundestag (1972−1976)
President Period FactionAnnemarie Renger1972−1976SPD Vice President Period FactionHermann Schmitt-VockenhausenKai-Uwe von HasselLiselotte FunckeRichard Jaeger1972−19761972−19761972−19761972−1976SPDCDU/CSU (1st)FDPCDU/CSU (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionLudwig Erhard1972–1976CDU/CSU
8th Bundestag (1976−1980)
President Period FactionKarl CarstensRichard Stücklen1976−19791979−1980CDU/CSUCDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard StücklenRichard von WeizsäckerAnnemarie RengerLiselotte FunckeRichard WurbsHermann Schmitt-VockenhausenGeorg Leber1976−19791979−19801976−19801976−19791979−19801976−19791979−1980CDU/CSUCDU/CSUSPD (1st)FDPFDPSPD (2nd)SPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionLudwig ErhardJohann Baptist Gradl1976–19771977–1980CDU/CSUCDU/CSU
9th Bundestag (1980−1983)
President Period FactionRichard Stücklen1980−1983CDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionAnnemarie RengerRichard von WeizsäckerHeinrich WindelenRichard WurbsGeorg Leber1980−19831980−19811981−19831980−19831980−1983SPD (1st)CDU/CSUCDU/CSUFDPSPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionHerbert Wehner1980–1983SPD
10th Bundestag (1983−1987)
President Period FactionRainer BarzelPhilipp Jenninger1983−19841984−1987CDU/CSUCDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard StücklenAnnemarie RengerRichard WurbsDieter-Julius CronenbergHeinz Westphal1983−19871983−19871983−19841984−19871983−1987CDU/CSUSPD (1st)FDPFDPSPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionEgon Franke1983–1987SPD
Egon Franke refrained from presiding over the opening session of the 10th Bundestag as he was under investigation for embezzlement at the time (he was later acquitted). The function was assumed by the next oldest member of parliament, Willy Brandt (SPD, 1913–1992).
11th Bundestag (1987−1990)
President Period FactionPhilipp JenningerRita Süssmuth1987−19881988−1990CDU/CSUCDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionRichard StücklenAnnemarie RengerDieter-Julius CronenbergHeinz Westphal1987−19901987−19901987−19901987−1990CDU/CSUSPD (1st)FDPSPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionWilly Brandt1987–1990SPD
12th Bundestag (1990−1994)
President Period FactionRita Süssmuth1990−1994CDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionHans KleinHelmut BeckerDieter-Julius CronenbergRenate Schmidt1990−19941990−19941990−19941990−1994CDU/CSUSPD (1st)FDPSPD (2nd) President by right of age Period FactionWilly BrandtAlfred Dregger1990–19921992–1994SPDCDU/CSU
13th Bundestag (1994−1998)
President Period FactionRita Süssmuth1994−1998CDU/CSU Vice President Period FactionHans KleinMichaela GeigerHans-Ulrich KloseBurkhard HirschAntje Vollmer1994−19981994−19961997−19981994−19981995−1998CDU/CSUCDU/CSUSPDFDPAlliance 90/The Greens President by right of age Period FactionStefan HeymAlfred Dregger1994–19951995–1998PDSCDU/CSU