Bavarian State Parliament and Maximilianeum

Bavarian State Parliament
and Maximilianeum
WELCOME
GRÜSS GOT T
BIENVENUE
BENVENUTO
BIENVENIDA
ДОБРО ПОЖ А ЛОВАТЬ
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Dear readers,
Bavaria is well-known and well-liked throughout the world.
Its religious and cultural customs, the variety and beauty of
its landscapes and a fair measure of clichés play a role in this.
Bavaria‘s political self-confidence, which has grown and developed
since the early Middle Ages, is the reason for the special position it
holds within Germany.
This brochure is an invitation for you to deal with the political
Bavaria of today. It will introduce you to the Free State‘s Parliament,
the Bayerischer Landtag, one of the oldest parliaments in Europe, with
beginnings dating back to the 14th century. And it will take you back
into the past by granting you an insight into the history of Parliament,
the architecture of its building - the Maximilianeum - and introducing
you to the scholarship foundation of the same name.
We appreciate your interest in the Maximilianeum
and Bayerischer Landtag!
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Bayerischer Landtag (Bavarian State Parliament)
Top left: The President of the Landtag with the Vice-Presidents; from left: Reinhold
Bocklet, Barbara Stamm, Jörg Rohde, Franz Maget, Peter Meyer, Christine Stahl
Representatives
In its 16th legislative period (2008 - 2013) the State Parliament is comprised of 187 representatives of the Bavarian people. The representatives
represent the people, not just a party or organised group of voters. They
are only accountable to their own conscience and are not tied to any
mandates. The representatives of the Bayerischer Landtag are elected
in a general, equal, direct and secret ballot, in accordance with an improved proportional representation by citizens who are eligible to vote,
in constituencies and wards. The legislative period is five years.
Top right: Meeting of the Council of Elders
President of the Landtag
The President manages the day-to-day operations of the Landtag
and represents the state with regard to all legal transactions and legal
disputes of the Landtag. She exercises domiciliary rights and police
powers within the Landtag building. The President heads the meetings
of the Landtag‘s plenum and is in charge of the employees of the
Landtag Office and the State Data Protection Officer.
Vice-Presidents of the Landtag
The Vice-Presidents provide support to the President in managing
the Landtag.
Two important committees:
the Steering Committee and the Council of Elders
The Steering Committee consists of the President, the five VicePresidents and the secretaries. The secretaries, who are representatives,
not stenographers, assist the respective Chairperson of the plenum.
The Steering Committee is a consulting and resolving body with regard
to administrative matters of the Landtag. It draws up the Landtag‘s
budget, resolves on building measures and the allocation of rooms in the
Landtag building and deals with the personnel issues of the Landtag‘s
office. The members of the Steering Committee are: Barbara Stamm
(CSU), President of the Landtag; Reinhold Bocklet (CSU), 1st VicePresident; Franz Maget (SPD), 2nd Vice-President; Peter Meyer (FW),
3rd Vice-President, secretary; Christine Stahl (B’90/Grüne), 4th VicePresident, secretary; Jörg Rohde (FDP), 5th Vice-President, secretary;
Reserl Sem (CSU), secretary; Sylvia Stierstorfer (CSU), secretary; Christa
Steiger (SPD), secretary; Walter Nadler (CSU), secretary.
The Council of Elders is a consulting and coordinating body in parliamentary matters and determines the date, time and agenda of the plenum.
The designation “Council of Elders” has nothing to do with the members‘
physical age. The members of the Council of Elders are: Barbara Stamm
(CSU), President of the Landtag; Reinhold Bocklet (CSU), 1st Vice-President; Franz Maget (SPD), 2nd Vice-President; Peter Meyer (FW), 3rd VicePresident; Christine Stahl (B’90/Grüne), 4th Vice-President; Jörg Rohde
(FDP), 5th Vice-President; Ulrike Gote (B’90/Grüne); Harald Güller (SPD),
Petra Guttenberger (CSU); Konrad Kobler (CSU); Bernd Kränzle (CSU);
Thomas Kreuzer (CSU); Eduard Nöth (CSU); Georg Schmid (CSU); Tanja
Schweiger (FW); Tobias Thalhammer (FDP); Johanna WernerMuggendorfer (SPD).
Plenum
The parliamentary work of the representative body for the Bavarian
people is concentrated in the representatives‘ plenum. A newly elected
Landtag is constituted during its first meeting, in the course of which
the plenum elects the President and the Steering Committee.
The plenum is held in the plenary room. This is the forum for great
debates - this is where final decisions are made. And this is also where
bills are read and where consultation on the motions proposed by
representatives takes place. The Landtag discusses important issues
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in the context of “Aktuelle Stunden” (debates on matters of topical
interest), interpellations and emergency motions that are raised directly
at the plenary session. In the plenum, the members of the state
government must also respond to the questions of the representatives,
in the context of ministers‘ question time.
The plenum meets publicly, in principle. The stenographic service of the
Landtag Office draws up verbatim minutes that are published as official
records of proceedings and can also be viewed on the Internet at
www.bayern.landtag.de.
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Parliamentary parties
Parliamentary parties are groupings within the Bayerischer Landtag,
which hold separate rights and duties and are formed by members of
the Landtag. The primary responsibility of such parliamentary parties
is participation in the political decision-making process. The parties
prepare statements, draw up proposals and determine the approach
of the parliamentary party in committees and in the plenum.
Five parliamentary parties are represented in the 16th Bayerische Landtag
(2008 – 2013): the Christlich-Soziale Union (Christian-Social Union = CSU)
with 92 representatives, the Sozialdemokratische Partei Deutschlands
(German Social-Democratic Party = SPD) with 39 representatives, the Freie
Wähler-Fraktion (Free Voters = FW) with 20 representatives, Bündnis 90/
Die Grünen (Alliance ‚90/The Greens) with 19 representatives and the Freie
Demokratische Partei (Free Democratic Party = FDP) with 16 representatives. Since June 2009, one member of the Landtag has been without a
parliamentary party. CSU and FDP form a coalition and make up the government. SPD, FW and Bündnis 90/Die Grünen form the opposition.
Results of the Bavarian state election held on 28 September 2008
10,4 %
9,4 %
43,4 %
SPD
39 mandates
CSU 92 mandates
18,6 %
10,2 %
FW
21 mandates*
Top right: meeting of the State Budget and Finance Committee
Committees
Standing committees that are responsible for certain specialist areas
(e.g. “State Budget and Finance”, “Community and Internal Security”,
“Education, Youth and Sports” or “Environment and Health”) are appointed for the duration of the legislative period. The twelve committees are
responsible for preparing the negotiations and decisions of the plenum.
They also deal with citizens‘ submissions and complaints and generally
make the final decisions. In principle, the meetings of the committees are
public. The Landtag determines the number of members of a committee.
Appointments are based on the size of the parliamentary parties, which
are responsible for nominating and recalling their members. The parliamentary control committee for the supervision of the activities of the
Bavarian State Office for the Protection of the Constitution can be compared with a standing committee.
Following an application by one-fifth of its members, the Landtag must
form investigation committees.
Other
B‘90/Die Grünen
19 mandates
Top left: the parliamentary party leaders (from left): Sepp Daxenberger and
Margarete Bause (Bündnis 90/Die Grünen), Markus Rinderspacher (SPD),
Hubert Aiwanger (FW), Thomas Hacker (FDP), Georg Schmid (CSU)
8,0 %
FDP
16 mandates
*since June 2009:
FW 20 mandates,
1 mandate independent
of a parliamentary party
Apart from that, the Landtag can appoint enquiry committees - in
accordance with section 25 a of the Bavarian Constitution (BV) - for
the preparation of decisions on comprehensive and important matters
that are the responsibility of the Free State of Bavaria.
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2. Legislation
The Landtag, the state government and the people (via referendums,
section 74 subsections 1 to 4 BV) are entitled to introduce bills
(section 71 BV). In the Landtag, legislative proposals are introduced
by individual representatives or by parliamentary parties.
Responsibilities of the Bayerischer Landtag
The Bayerischer Landtag fulfills four important tasks:
1. Forming a government
The premier of Bavaria (the Minister President or MP) must be elected
within one week of the first convention of the Landtag (section 44
subsection 1 of the Bavarian Constitution, BV) and the election shall be
decided by a simple majority of the votes cast. The members of the state
government are appointed and dismissed by the Minister President. The
Minister President requires the Landtag‘s approval for this and with regard to the number and delimitation of departmental responsibilities.
The state government consists of the Minister President and up to
17 ministers and secretaries of state (section 43 subsection 2 BV).
Laws are passed by the Landtag - with the exception of referendums,
when they are passed by the public. Among the laws the Landtag
discusses and has to make decisions on, the budget law holds a special
position. It generates the financial basis for the actions of the state government and the state administration. The budget volume of the Free
State of Bavaria totals approximately EUR 40 billion a year.
Foto: Eleana Hegerich
In enacting laws, the Bayerischer Landtag is bound by the Bavarian
Constitution and the Basic Constitutional Law of the Federal Republic
of Germany. These represent the boundaries of the Landtag‘s
legislation (see also page 17 ff).
Left: the members of the Bavarian state government (from left):
Dr Ludwig Spaenle (CSU), Georg Fahrenschon (CSU), Siegfried Schneider (CSU),
Dr Bernd Weiß (CSU, until 14 October 2009; successor Gerhard Eck, CSU),
Emilia Müller (CSU), Markus Sackmann (CSU), Martin Zeil (FDP), Melanie Huml (CSU),
MP Horst Seehofer (CSU), Katja Hessel (FDP), Dr Beate Merk (CSU), Dr Marcel Huber (CSU),
Christine Haderthauer (CSU), Franz Josef Pschierer (CSU), Joachim Herrmann (CSU),
Dr Markus Söder (CSU), Dr Wolfgang Heubisch (FDP), Helmut Brunner (CSU)
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Parliamentary legislation
Legislative initiatives
Legislative proposals are introduced by the Minister President in
the name of the state government or introduced by the members of
the Landtag (section 71 BV). All bills are submitted to the President
of the Landtag and included in the agenda of the plenum.
individual voting are only effected if requested by a member of the
Landtag or a parliamentary party. Applications for amendment can
be submitted until the end of the second reading.
Third reading
A third reading is only effected following special request. It is based
on the resolutions passed in the second reading.
First reading
During the first reading in the plenum, only the basic principles of
a proposal are addressed. Applications for amendment cannot be
made. If the proposal is not rejected, the plenum refers it on to
the committee in charge of the matter for further processing.
Final vote
After the second (and possibly the third) reading is completed, a vote is
held on the acceptance or rejection of the legislative proposal. Generally,
a law is passed if - in the presence of at least half of the members of the
Bayerischer Landtag - it receives the majority of votes cast.
The committees
Under the direction of the committee in charge of the matter, the
committees asked to provide opinions deal extensively with the
legislative proposal and come to decisions that are submitted to
the plenum as proposed resolutions.
Publication and commencement
The constitutionally established laws are signed by the Minister President
and published in the Bavarian Law and Ordinance Gazette within a week.
Each law must state the date on which it takes effect (section 76 BV).
Second reading
At the earliest, the second reading in the plenum commences on
the third day following final consultation with the committee for
Constitution, Law, Parliament and Consumer Protection - the final
consultative committee. Usually, a general debate takes place.
Individual briefing on all provisions of the legislative proposal or
Minister President
Horst Seehofer
issuing a law
The most distinguished legislative authority
of Parliament: the state budget
The Budget Act holds a prominent position among the laws the
Bayerische Landtag advises and makes decisions on. It generates the
financial basis of the actions of the state government and administration
for a period of two years (biennial budget). The Bavarian Constitution
excludes the possibility of a referendum on the state budget. This also
demonstrates the particular significance budget law holds for the
Bavarian Parliament.
Three-quarters of the income of the Free State is derived from taxes and
levies similar to taxes (see diagram) that are shared by the Federal Government, the states and the municipalities, in accordance with a complex
process. Compared with this income, the income from the state treasury,
for example administrative fees or continuous allocations (e.g. from the
EU) plays only a minor role. In 2007, the Free State did not enter into any
new debts and managed to commence repayment of existing debts.
A financial feat that no other German state has accomplished so far.
The global financial crisis that has been ongoing since 2008, is, however,
currently also putting these consolidation successes at risk in Bavaria.
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Income of the Free State of Bavaria in the 2009 financial year
Breakdown by type of income
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Expenses of the Free State of Bavaria in the 2009 financial year
Breakdown by area
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1
3
2
10
3
1
10
2
9
9
8
8
7
7
6
1
6
5
1
5
4
3
Income 2009
1 Taxes and levies similar to taxes
2 Administrative income, income from debt service and similar
3 Income for ongoing purposes (in particular of the
Federal Government)
4 Income for investments, special financing income
EUR 41,219.1 million
30,999.9
2,617.2
3,727.5
3,874.5
Expenses 2009
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
Current as of: April 2009
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2
2
3
EUR 41,219.1 million
General services (e.g. police and legal protection)
Education, science, research
Social security, social post-war payments, post-war compensation
Health, sports and recreation
Housing, urban development, regional planning and joint
municipal services
Nutrition, agriculture and forestry
Energy and water management, trade, services
Transport and communication
Commercial enterprises, general immovable property
and capital assets
General finance
7,682.9
15,105.7
2,838.1
1,207.2
477.9
954.0
784.5
2,338.7
81.8
9,748.3
Foto: Fabian Helmich
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3. Supervision
One of the key responsibilities of the Landtag is the supervision of the
state government and the administration that is under its control. For
this purpose, the Landtag and its committees can demand the presence
of the Minister President and of all members of the state government, in
accordance with section 24 BV. On the other hand, the members of the
state government and their appointed representatives have access to all
meetings of the Landtag and its committees. They must be heard at any
time during consultation, even if not scheduled in the agenda. The right
to ask questions and the right to information form part of the right of
quotation. With regard to budget checking, the state government‘s
budget management and accounting are audited.
15 424
16 065
15 788
14 466
14 082
18 000
16 000
14 000
12 000
10 000
8 000
6 000
4 000
2 000
0
14 301
Number of petitions in past legislative periods
10.
11.
12.
13.
14.
15.
Legislative period
The right of petition also forms part of the supervisory mechanism.
Anyone can turn to the Landtag with regard to requests and complaints.
The petitions provide Parliament with an overview of current problems,
in particular cases of hardship and borderline cases that arise in the
course of law enforcement.
4. Other functions of an election and cooperation
in other committees
The members of the Bavarian Constitutional Court are elected by the
Landtag. At the suggestion of the state government, the Landtag elects
the President of the Bavarian Supreme Court of Auditors.
Even the State Data Protection Officer is elected by the Landtag at the
suggestion of the state government. Due to special legal provisions,
representatives of the Bayerische Landtag also make up parts of the
Broadcasting Council, the Media Council, the State Monuments Council,
the State Sports Council, the State Healthcare Council, the Council for
Information and Communication Technology, the Board of Trustees
of the “Bayerische Landesstiftung” and the Councils of individual
correctional facilities.
Bavaria in the Federal Republic of Germany
A political system in line with federal principles meets the needs of
regional variety and the aspirations of the states and regions for
maximum scope in designing their own policies. German federalism
is tried and tested. It formed the basis for the successful development
of our political system after 1945 and it promotes the development of
the Federal Republic of Germany in the context of the European Union.
Division of legislative responsibilities between the
Federal Republic and its individual states
After World War II, the individual states were initially formed. These
are individual and separate states. The Federal Republic of Germany
was founded when the states agreed to the Basic Law. This, the
constitution of the Federal Republic, divides the legislative responsibilities between the Federal Republic and its individual states (sections
70 - 74 Basic Law). In 2006, the so-called “Föderalismusreform I” (Federalism Reform) rendered these responsibilities more transparent and
legislation altogether more efficient.
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SchleswigHolstein
Hamburg
MecklenburgWestern Pomerania
Bremen
Lower Saxony
Federal Capital Berlin
Brandenburg
Saxony-Anhalt
North RhineWestphalia
Saxony
Hesse
Thuringia
RhinelandPalatinate
Saarland
Bavaria
BadenWuerttemberg
Munich
Concurrent legislation
Divergent legislation
Foto: dpa
Foto: Xaver Sedlmeir
Foto: BilderBox Bildagentur
Exclusive legislation of the federal government
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The responsibilities are divided up as follows:
Exclusive legislation of the federal government
(sections 71 and 73 Basic Law)
The Basic Law determines areas in which only the federal
government may take action, e.g.
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Foreign affairs
Defence, civil protection
Citizenship
Passports, registration and ID
Currency and monetary system
Customs duties and foreign trade
Federal railway and air transport
Post and telecommunications
Generation and use of nuclear power
Concurrent legislation (sections 72 and 74 Basic Law)
The states may (only) pass laws as long as and to the extent that
the federal government does not take action. In so doing, however,
a difference must be made between laws with and laws without a
so-called “Erforderlichkeitsklaus” (necessity clause). The necessity
clause is an additional requirement if the federal legislator is to take
action. In the areas addressed in section 72 subsection 2 of the Basic
Law, the federal legislator may only take action if a federal law is
required in order to generate equal living conditions or to maintain
legal and economic uniformity within the area of the Federal Republic.
The areas covered by concurrent legislation include:
Without necessity clause
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Civil law
Criminal law
Births, deaths and marriages
Law of associations
Land distribution and
regional development
Labour law
With necessity clause
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Right of residence
of foreign citizens
Business law
Road traffic
Food law
Divergent legislation (section 72 subsection 3 Basic Law)
In the context of concurrent legislation, states may take legislative
action in certain areas if the federal government has already passed
laws in these areas, e.g.
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Hunting
Environmental legislation
University admission and degrees
Bavaria
Donors
Berlin
Thuringia
Saxony
Saxony-Anhalt
505 538
636
Brandenburg
Schleswig-Holstein
373
Bremen
Saarland
316
Mecklenburg-Western
Pomerania
176
Rhineland-Palatinate
116
Lower Saxony
54
North Rhine-Westphalia
Foto: BilderBox Bildagentur
Recipients
1.157
620 626
Hamburg
Inter-state fiscal adjustment 2008 in EUR million
Hesse
Exclusive legislation by the states
Baden-Wuerttemberg
3.139
-370
-2.498 -2.470
-2.923
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Exclusive legislation by the states
The Free State of Bavaria holds the sole right of legislation in the areas
not addressed in sections 70-74 of the Basic Law, e.g.
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Culture
Schools and education
Local authorities
Police
Right of assembly
Land distribution and regional development
Public service law
Nursing home law
Hotel and catering law
Press, broadcasting and new media
From March 2007 to March 2009 a committee consisting of 16 members
at federal level (members of the German Bundestag and of the federal
government), 16 representatives of the Federal Council (generally the
Minister Presidents of the states) and (without the right to vote) four
representatives of the various Landtags and three representatives of
the public authorities worked toward the modernisation of the financial
relationships between the federal government and the individual states
(the so-called “Federalism Reform II”). In particular, the committee
agreed on a categoric prohibition of the re-accumulation of debt of
the states, a debt limit for the federal government and an early warning
system in order to spot public households deviating from this plan at an
early stage in the event of a crisis.
Distribution of finances between the federal
government and the states
The appropriate distribution of finances between the federal
government and the states is vital with regard to the functioning of the
federal system. Both levels have their own sources of taxation. Thus, the
federal government receives key consumption taxes such as the energy
tax (previously referred to as the mineral oil tax), insurance tax, tobacco
tax and most recently also the motor vehicle tax. The states and their
public authorities, in particular, receive the monies from land transfer
tax, inheritance tax and business tax. On the other hand, the major types
of taxes on earnings (payroll and income tax, corporate tax) and sales
tax - the so-called combined federal and state taxes - represent the
lion‘s share of taxes. They enter the coffers of the federal government,
the states and their public authorities at the legally defined rates.
A sophisticated federal fiscal equalisation scheme provides the
guarantee of a balanced distribution of finances between the federal
government and the states and between the states themselves. This
scheme ranges from the distribution of the state share in sales tax or
the state fiscal equalisation scheme (see diagram above) through
to supplementary allocations by the federal government to underperforming states.
A high-ranking foreign delegation
visiting the Bayerischer Landtag
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The Bavarian Parliament
The Bayerischer Landtag is one of Germany‘s oldest Parliaments.
It ranks high in the development of European parliamentarianism.
Its origins date back to the beginning of the 14th century. The first
steps toward the Landtag were taken in Lower Bavaria.
1311
The “Ottonische Handfeste”, a charter dated 15 June, marks the
beginning of Bavaria‘s parliamentary history. Duke Otto III of Lower
Bavaria/Landshut, a member of the Wittelsbach dynasty, urgently
required money. For this purpose, the Lower Bavarian aristocracy approved a new tax while, at the same time, having new rights bestowed
upon it (e.g. low justice). This document became the basis for the liberties
of the three estates of the realm: the aristocracy, the clergy and towns.
These estates were also referred to in their entirety as “Landschaft”.
1508
At the beginning of the 16th century the duchies of Upper and Lower
Bavaria were reunited. Since then, the estates of Bavaria have held meetings
together. Their goal - a greater say in matters - was achieved by declaring
the “Landesfreiheit” (liberty of the region) in 1508. This was to be the
“Basic Law” of the estates‘ Bavarian Constitution for a period of 300 years.
Left: Code of Constitution of the Kingdom of Bavaria
dated 26 May 1818 (Bavarian Main State Archive)
Top right: Shrine for the storage of the
1818 Constitution (Bayerischer Landtag)
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1669
The era of royal absolutism drove back the power of the estates. This
process had, however, already been initiated during the long regency of
the Elector Maximilian I. In 1669, the Old Bavarian “Landtag” convened
for the very last time. Until the beginning of the 19th century, only a
“standing committee” managed its businesses and affairs. Nominally,
the rights and liberties of the estates were retained.
1808
When, during the Napoleonic wars, Bavaria was facing bankruptcy, only
a modern constitution with a Parliament seemed to be able to guarantee
the unity of the state and well-organised finances. Thus, King Maximilian
I Joseph of Bavaria ratified a constitution that granted certain basic civic
rights. The old “Landschaft” was dissolved. The scheduled national
representation was not implemented.
1818
Finally, King Maximilian I Joseph of Bavaria was forced to establish a
new constitution. In accordance with the English model, he created a
bi-cameral assembly of the estates. The members of the first chamber that of the Councillors of the Realm - were members by birth, property,
office or royal appointment. The second chamber consisted of representatives of the aristocracy, clergy, bourgeoisie and peasantry, some directly
and some indirectly elected.
1819
On 4 February, the King declared the first assembly of the estates as
open. The sessions were referred to as “Landtag” (regional assembly).
The primary responsibility of this first Landtag was the organisation of
state finances and the determination of the budget.
Top left: Opening of the first assembly of estates of the
Kingdom of Bavaria on 4 February 1819 (Munich City Museum)
Top right: King Maximilian II‘s departure from the Landtag
building in Prannerstrasse, following the opening of the Landtag
on 22 March 1848 (Munich City Museum)
1849
The Bavarian representation of the people was officially awarded
the name “Landtag”. From 1819 to 1934, the Landtag was located in
Prannerstrasse 20 (near Promenadeplatz) in Munich.
1881
A secret ballot process was introduced for representatives of the
Landtag.
1907
The first time the entire chamber of representatives was voted in directly.
Only men aged 25 or older were allowed to vote.
1918
The end of World War I also saw the end of the constitutional monarchy.
In the night of revolution from 7 to 8 November, Bavaria was proclaimed
a republic. King Ludwig III fled. Kurt Eisner, the leader of the USPD,
became the first Minister President of the new republic (Free State).
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1919
On 12 January, the Bavarian people elected the first Landtag that
actually represented the sovereignty of the people. The right to
vote now also applied to women. When upheavals occurred, in the
wake of Kurt Eisner‘s assassination in Munich, the Landtag and
government retreated to Bamberg, where a new Bavarian constitution
took effect. The new constitution provided for only a single chamber
- the Landtag.
1933
On 28 and 29 April, the Bayerische Landtag convened for the last time.
In Berlin, the National Socialist Party had already assumed power.
1934
A “Reichsgesetz” (Law of the Third Reich) of 30 January suspended
all state parliaments (Landtag) throughout Germany.
1946
Following the end of World War II, the US American military
government permitted the formation of democratic parties. On
26 February a “Consultative State Committee” met in the auditorium
of Munich University, as the preliminary Parliament. At the time the military government had appointed Dr Wilhelm Hoegner as Minister President. On 30 June, for the first time in Bavaria‘s history, a constituent
state assembly was elected. It comprised members of the CSU, SPD, FDP
and KPD. With the implementation of the Bavarian Senate, the Bavarian
tradition of a bicameral system was continued.
On 1 December the people approved the new constitution and, at
the same time, elected a new Landtag. As the old Landtag building in
Prannerstrasse had been completely destroyed, the newly elected body
initially met on the premises of Munich university, in the Brunnenhof
theatre at the olde royal palace and in the Sophiensaal hall at the
Regional Tax Office.
1949
ln January, the Bayerischer Landtag and the Bavarian Senate moved into
the renovated Maximilianeum. The “Maximilianeum” and the “Bavarian
Parliament” have since become synonymous.
Top left: Meeting of the constituent state assembly
in the auditorium of Munich University, 1946
Top right: Celebration on the occasion of the Bavarian Constitution‘s 60th anniversary held on 30 November 2006 in the auditorium of Munich‘s Ludwig Maximilian University
Bottom left: The Constitution of the Free State of Bavaria; Publication in the
Bavarian Law and Ordinance Gazette no. 23, dated 8 December 1946
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The Maximilianeum building
Planning and construction history
In his list of projects to be completed following his accession to the
throne (1848), Crown Prince Maximilian also included (in 1839) an
extension of the city to the East by a new road. This project took a more
concrete form when (in 1851) the architect Friedrich Bürklein presented
King Maximilian II with plans “regarding Munich‘s beautification”, which,
for the first time, defined this connection between Munich‘s old city and
Haidhausen as a sequence of a street, a “forum”, bridges and “acropolises”. The construction of the approximately 1,200 m long “new road”
commenced in 1853. As of 1858, the road was officially named “Maximilianstrasse”. In 1858, Arnold Zenetti, Head of the Municipal Planning
and Building Control Office, had bridges built over the Isar and the
Praterinsel. To provide Munich‘s new boulevard with a uniform appearance, Maximilian II commissioned architects with designs of sample facades. In their work, the architects had to adhere to a style dictated by
the King, the so-called Maximilian style: based on the Anglo-Saxon neoGothic style, the best aspects from all historic art eras were to be
combined with modern construction techniques.
Top: Pen and ink drawing
by Friedrich Bürklein
Right: Friedrich Bürklein
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The planning of the Maximilianeum was performed in parallel with the
planning of Maximilianstraße. In 1850, Maximilian II decided to hold an
international architecture competition “relating to the completion of a
construction plan for an insitution of higher learning”. Friedrich Bürklein
(1813-1872), whose city beautification plan had proven how well he was
able to put the monarch‘s ideas into action, was awarded the commission. Maximilian II laid the foundation stone on 5 October 1857. Due to
increasing criticism, in February 1864, only briefly before his unexpected
death, the King demanded a change of plan, although the centre section
of the western part of the building was already more than one storey
high. The planned pointed arches had to make way for GermanRenaissance arches (see image above), the pilaster strips for an order
of columns. Thus, the history of the Maximilaneum‘s planning and
construction also marks the beginning and end of the Maximilian style.
The building was finally completed in 1874.
art exhibition was held in the gallery of the Maximilianeum, while
“Munich‘s highest café”, located in the arcades, offered its guests
magnificent panorama views. However, parts of the building were
destroyed in airstrikes. It was therefore a godsend that the Bayerischer
Landtag took over the Maximilianeum as its headquarters in 1949.
This rendered corresponding changes in the previous gallery necessary.
To alleviate the lack of space of the Parliament, wings containing
offices and meeting rooms were added to the east in 1958/59 and
1964/65. In 1993 an underground carpark was built. By October 1994,
two extension wings were completed. In 1998 the access building
opened which led from the underground carpark to the old part of the
building. During construction, the historic foundation stone of the Maximilianeum was found. The contents of the foundation stone - gold coins,
portraits of the royal founding couple and the model of a locomotive are exhibited in the Maximilianeum‘s “Steinerne Saal” or Stone Hall.
Until 1918, the Maximilianeum was not only home to the scholarship
foundation (see page 42) and an “historic gallery” but also to the royal
school of pages. Until just before the end of World War II, the Munich
Porcelain images of
King Maximilian II
and his wife Marie
from the excavated
foundation stone
Foundation stone contents:
a model of the Patentee series, Germany‘s
oldest model locomotive still in existence
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The exterior and its artwork
Holding a dominant position above the eastern shore of the Isar,
accessible by an impressive, extensive driveway, the rambling building
is elevated, like a gloriette. The flat-roofed facade consists of a slightly
concave centre section and two straight side wings. The uniform rows
of round arches on both storeys are delimited on the either side by
three-storey open towers.
Widely visible, the artworks on the western facade depict the programme
of the original “institution of higher learning”. Thus, the mosaics on the
centre risalit (see image below) depict the foundation of Ettal by the
German Emperor Ludwig IV, as an example of the piety and charity of the
Bavarian dynasty, flanked by the opening of the university in Ingolstadt
and the victory of the poet Wolfram von Eschenbach at the Sängerkrieg
as an example of Bavaria‘s scientific and artistic prowess.
The mosaics of the northern risalit depict the Pavia Treaty of the
House of Wittelsbach as an outstanding political performance.
Top right: Demosthenes, statesman
384-322 BC, bust above the lower row of arcades
Right: Greek goddess of victory, Nike, and Victorias
with garlands and palm branches
The scientific tools depicted on the side pick up on the cycle of frescoes
in the room below. On the southern risalit the art of war is presented as
the liberation of Vienna from the Turks. The war trophies depicted on the
side once again reflect the images depicted in the room below.
The 22 busts above the lower row of arcades portray “benefactors,
inventors, wise people, men of letters, statesmen and generals”
(to the north: from Homer to Francis of Assisi; to the south: from
Gustavus Adolphus of Sweden to Pythagoras).
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The interior and its fittings
Visitors who access the Maximilianeum via the the main entrance in
the west are received by a vestibule. When looking up the stairs a
monumental late Gothic crucifix from Chieming can be seen in the
gallery. Several marble busts are located on the landing and in the
gallery.
Half way up, the stairs are divided into two flights that lead to the open
arcades of the Steinerne Saal (Stone Hall). Here, in the so-called cloister
visitors can view a unique historical documentation. This documentation
contains the victim biographies of 315 members of Bavarian parliaments
that suffered under the Nazi dictatorship. Researchers can look into
individual biographies. Since January 2008, it has been possible to
retrieve them at a computer terminal. They complement a commemorative plaque installed in the cloister in May 2007 (see bottom left). Both
are to contribute to keeping alive the memory of democratic resistance
in Bavaria against the National Socialist dictatorship.
The side walls of the cloister not only contain portraits of the young
King Maximilian II by Julius Zimmermann and the first Bavarian King
Maximilian I Joseph by Moritz Kellerhoven, but also two gigantic
canvasses: to the south “The Coronation of Emperor Charles the Great”
by Friedrich Kaulbach (1861) and to the north “The Coronation of Ludwig
of Bavaria” by August von Kreling (1859). They are the remainders of a
work of originally 30 oil paintings commissioned by King Maximilian II,
with important historic events (ranging from the biblical Fall to the
Battle of Nations at Leipzig).
The south-eastern of the four portals to the Steinerne Saal leads to the
assembly room of the Bayerischer Landtag. The north-eastern portal
provides access to the so-called Senate Hall. This hall was used by the
Bavarian Senate (the previous “second chamber”
of the Bavarian Parliament) as a meeting
room. With effect of 1 January 2000,
the Bavarian Senate was abolished by referendum.
Top: The Steinerne Saal:
View of the ambulatories
and the cloister (centre)
Right: Bust made of Carrara marble:
Augustus, the first Roman Emperor
63 BC – 14 AC
The north-western portal of the Steinerne Saal leads to the northern
ambulatory, the so-called President‘s corridor. Its name is derived from
the portraits of the previous Landtag Presidents that hang there. The
corridor leads to the conference room that is used by the Council of
Elders of the Landtag for receptions and meetings. The eastern wall
of the centre room is home to a fresco created by Engelbert Seibertz,
which depicts the Maximilianeum in neo-Gothic design, prior to the
1864 change of plan. It shows the imaginary introduction of Alexander
von Humboldt to a group of famous men from the arts and sciences in
Bavaria (see image below). The remaining walls feature pictures painted
by Georg Hiltensperger of six benefactors and six inventors. These
pictures were meant to supplement a cycle of busts, which used to flank
the northern and southern ambulatories, as in a hall of fame. The reading
room at the end of the southern ambulatory is the counterpart to the
conference room. The frescoes on its eastern wall, the centrepart of
which depicted a group of important statesmen at the time of the
Congress of Vienna, have been lost. Instead, the oil sketch by Karl
Theodor von Pilotys on the Sängerkrieg can be viewed. The pictures
by Friedrich Pecht on the remaining walls show six European generals
and six statesmen.
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1 Ignaz von Döllinger
2 Friedrich von Hermann
3 Leo von Klenze
4 Joseph von Fraunhofer
5 Lorenz von Westenrieder
6 Johann Georg von Lori
7 Friedrich von Thiersch
8 Friedrich Wilhelm
von Schelling
9 Justus von Liebig
10 Alexander von Humboldt
11 Carl Ritter
12 Wilhelm von Kaulbach
13 Wilhelm von Doenniges
14 Leopold von Ranke
15 Emanuel von Geibel
16 Ludwig von Schwanthaler
17 August Graf
von Platen-Hallermünde
18 Franz Lachner
19 Franz Xaver von Baader
20 Franz von Kobell
1
2
3
4
5
6
7
8
9
10
11
12
13
14
15
16
17
18
19
20
Information on the scholarship
foundation is available at
www.maximilianeum.de
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The Maximilianeum scholarship foundation
The owner of the building is the Maximilianeum scholarship foundation.
The Bayerischer Landtag is merely a tenant.
Maximilian II of Bavaria (1811-1864) already conceived the plan of
constructing “a large national building on the Isarhöhe near Munich” in
order to “improve the monarchical national volksgeist” as Crown Prince.
This was soon accompanied by the concept of an “athenaeum”, an
institution with the goal of “enabling talented Bavarian youths (irrespective of class) to achieve the level of scientific and mental training required to meet the higher requirements of public service”. Unfortunately,
Maximilian II did not live long enough to witness the completion of the
institution‘s building and even the legal form of the foundation was finalised under his son and successor, Ludwig II. In accordance with the
1876 certificate, the Maximilianeum building and a gallery with historic
images and marble busts still belong to the foundation to this very day.
Following the end of the monarchy in 1918, the protectorate of
the Maximilaneum foundation was transferred to Munich‘s LudwigMaximilians University and has remained there ever since. The scholarship foundation currently supports a total of 33 high-school graduates.
The “Wittelsbacher Jubiläums-Stiftung” (since 1980; Wittelsbach
anniversary foundation) currently pays scholarships for 17 highly
talented female high-school graduates. Since the foundation of the
institution approximately 800 students (both male and female) have
enjoyed the benefits of the two foundations. Famous “Maximilianeers”
include the two Bavarian Minister Presidents Eugen Ritter von Knilling
(1865-1927) and Franz Josef Strauß (1915-1988), as well as the Nobel
Laureate for Physics, Werner Heisenberg (1901-1976).
Foto: Fabian Helmich
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Our services
Information material
The Bayerischer Landtag has a host of free information at its disposal.
Orders can be placed by mail, fax, e-mail, phone or on our website.
Details can be found under “Contact Us” on the following page.
The Bayerischer Landtag on the internet
The Bayerischer Landtag website offers web TV, featuring livebroadcasts of current plenary sessions and recordings of past sessions
(video archive). The current progress of the plenum can be viewed at
“Plenum online”. Furthermore, you can view meeting schedules and
agendas, search for parliamentary meeting minutes, bills, motions and
resolutions document search), read up on parliamentary history and on
the Maximilianeum itself, and find the biographies and addresses of all
representatives, information for young users and a variety of additional
information.
“Maximilianeum” – the online magazine of the Bayerischer Landtag
At www.maximilianeum-online.de, under the headings “Title”, “Politics”
and “Panorama” you will find regular contributions on parliamentary
activities in Bavaria. Interested citizens can subscribe to “Maximilianeum”
free of charge.
By the way, you can also find the online magazine on the homepage
of the Bayerischer Landtag website at www.bayern.landtag.de.
Visiting the Maximilianeum
Individual visitors can attend committee or plenary sessions without
prior registration if seats are available (presentation of a valid ID card
or passport required). Tours of the building are not possible without
an invitation by the Landtag Office.
Groups can visit the Bayerischer Landtag after registering and receiving
an invitation from the Landtag Office. The request to visit must be in
writing and must be received as early as possible. Visitors are looked
after by the visitor‘s service of the Landtag Office.
Bavarian school classes are offered a special programme in the context
of “educational support”. Due to the high level of interest, early registration (during the first few months of the school year) is required.
There are further conditions for all visits.
Contact Us
Bayerischer Landtag – Landtagsamt
Referat P V – Öffentlichkeitsarbeit, Besucher
Maximilianeum, D – 81627 München, Deutschland
Phone +49 (0) 89 41 26 – 27 05 or - 23 36 (Visitors‘ service)
Phone +49 (0) 89 41 26 – 21 91 or – 26 02 Orders
Fax +49 (0) 89 41 26 – 17 67
oeffentlichkeitsarbeit@bayern.landtag.de
paed.betreuung@bayern.landtag.de (Visits by school classes)
For questions regarding the Bayerischer Landtag:
Central information department of the Landtag Office
Phone +49 (0) 89 41 26 – 22 68, informationsstelle@bayern.landtag.de
Editor:
Bayerischer Landtag
Landtag Office
Department of Public Relations, Visitors
Maximilianeum
D - 81627 Munich, Germany
Phone +49 (0) 89 41 26 - 0
Fax +49 (0) 89 41 26 -13 92
landtag@bayern.landtag.de
www.bayern.landtag.de
Photos:
Picture library of the
Bayerischer Landtag
Photographer: Rolf Poss, Siegsdorf
(insofar as nothing to the
contrary is stated)
Design:
Vogt, Sedlmeir, Reise. GmbH
Munich
Published by:
EBERL PRINT GmbH, Immenstadt
Current as of: January 2010