Bundesrat
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The Bundesrat is a governing body that has represented Germany's individual states since 1949. It plays an important role in the German legislative process by allowing states to have a say in federal laws and policies that affect them.
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The German Bundesrat ( German: [ˈbʊndəsˌʁaːt] , lit. 'Federal Council') is a legislative body that represents the sixteen states of Germany (German: Länder) at the federal level (German: Bundesebene). The Bundesrat meets at the former Prussian House of Lords in Berlin at Leipziger Straße. Its second seat is located in the former West German capital of Bonn.
In Germany's bicameral system, the Bundesrat legislates alongside the Bundestag. The Bundesrat members are appointed by state governments; the Bundestag representatives are elected by the German people. Certain laws and all constitutional changes need the consent of both houses. Thus Bundesrat is not an equal second house like United States Senate, Swiss Ständerat or Australian Senate. Its power is closer to the Canadian Senate and the British House of Lords.