Federal Institutions and Ministries

Bundestag (Lower House of Parliament) in the Reichstag Building - guided tours
The Reichstag Building is the seat of the German Bundestag (Lower House of Parliament) and thanks to its cupola the most popular sight in Berlin. Its moving history reflects the turbulent German history from the 19th century onward.
It is a short way into this building. A few steps - up the stairs outside and through the mighty columns at the entrance - and you are in the reception hall with the glass walls through which you can see right into the heart of the building, the Plenar Hall.
Since the transfer of the Bundestag to Berlin in 1999 visitors have had the chance to enter this building through the west entrance and to use two lifts that take them right up to the terrace on the roof. Those who want an even better view can go up to the platform in the upper part of the glass cupola.

Bundesrat (Upper House of Parliament) - guided tours
In September 1996 the Bundesrat decided to move from Bonn to Berlin. Since the summer of 2000 this institution can be found in the former Prussian House of Lords.

Bundeskanzleramt (Federal Chancellery) - guided tours
The German Bundeskanzler (Federal Chancellor) has this newly built office at his disposal. Like the ministries it has the rank of one of the highest federal authorities. As a central coordination centre it is of extraordinary political importance.
At first the Federal Chancellery moved to the former East German Staatsratgebäude. On 30 April 2001 the new building near the River Spree became the new home of this institution.

Bundespräsidialamt (Office of the Federal President) - guided tours
After the Bundestag had decided to move to Berlin on 20 June 1991, Richard von Weizsäcker, Federal President at that time, started talking about a new Federal President's Office next to Bellevue Chateau in Berlin. In 1994 Weizsäcker moved to Berlin, in February 1995 his successor Roman Herzog chose the so-called Oval Office plan and laid the foundation stone. More than two years later, on 23 November 1998 the newly built President's Office was officially handed over.

Commission for Stasi-Documents - guided tours
This institution has existed for ten years just as the law about Stasi-Documents. This means ten years of juridicial newland, experiencing historic and internationally unique ways of working on the impacts and documents concerning a dictatorship. And it means a decade of confrontation with those who would rather forget.

 Federal Ministry of Foreign Affairs - Lectures (for groups of 15 to 150 people)
about the work of this ministry are held in the part of the building that is open to the pulic.
The building situated in the Werder Market Square has an unusual history. It was used as National Bank, Ministry of Finance of the GDR, seat of the SED Central Committee and finally a "House of MPs".

 Federal Ministry of Finance - guided tours
Inform yourself on site about the Detlev-Rohwedder-House, its architecture, history and the work of this ministry. Tours include lectures and the possibility to ask questions and discuss the latest financial and economical politics.
In addition specialized lectures can be arranged in cooperation with the public relations department of the federal government.

Federal Ministry of the Interior - lectures (about 1,5 h)
The Federal Minister of the Interior has a lot of duties: security and protection of the constitution, civil service, informing the citizens, politics oncerning immigration, political education, sports, management of catastrophes ...

Federal Ministry for Family, Pensioners, Women and Youth - introductory talks
This ministry is occupied with the well-being of families and pensioners, equal rights, children and youth, alternatice civil service, charities and initiatives of citizens.

Federal Ministry of Health and Social Questions - introductory talks
This ministry is of extreme importantance in a social state. It is responsible for the most important types of social insurances and for supporting new research in modern medicine.

Federal Ministry for the Environment, Protection of the Environment and Nuclear Power Stations - introductory talks
Until 1986 three different federal ministries were responsible for the protection of the environment: the Ministries of the Interior, Agriculture and Health. On 6 June 1986 the Ministry for the Environment, Protection of the Environment and Nuclear Power Stations was formed. Since then this ministry has been significant in formulating the environmental politics of the federal government.

 Federal Ministry for Traffic, Building and Living - guided tours
This ministry resides in an ols historical building and a modern extension. The old part of the building was designed by August Tiede and built in the years 1875-1878 as Geological and Mineralogical Academy. In the times of the GDR the Ministry of Geology was located here.

 Federal Ministry for Economy and Employment - introductory talks
Since 22 October 2002 the former Ministry for Economy and Technology and the former Ministry for Employment and Social Questions have merged in this new federal ministry. It is mainly concerned with work, work laws, protection of employees and international matters.

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