They were now only administrative regions, subordinate to the Nazi party apparatus. After 1945 the German states applied themselves to restore the all-German state system. It was precisely the federal provinces, which founded the Federal Republic of Germany. At the Convention for the Constitution, held in Herrenschiemsee in 1948, they formulated their ideas of an all-German Constitution, which to a great degree were adopted by the Basic Law of the country. Federalism unites the Federal Republic of Germany and is the link between the states and the Federation.
Federalism stands for more democracy.
Federalism brings the State closer to the citizens and makes it directly responsible to them for its decision-making. Federalism opens up political space for action, preserves cultural distinctiveness and ensures diversity where established tradition contributes to the wealth of our society. In the Bundesrat, the upper house of the Parliament in Berlin, the states participate in the legislation and administration of the Federal Republic. The Bundesrat is not directly elected, but is a constitutional body of the Federal Republic, appointed by the governments of the federal states. In it the 16 federal states have a voting right in proportion to their population size.