Free State of Bavaria

The State Chancellery and State Ministries are entrusted with clearly defined spheres of responsibility or special duties that reflect the wide range of political topics covered.

The State Chancellery is the official seat of the Bavarian Minister-President as head of state and first representative of the Free State of Bavaria. The State Chancellery supports the Minister-President in determining the general guidelines of government policy – in cooperation with the relevant ministries. It coordinates the activities of the state ministries, prepares meetings of the Council of Ministers and resolutions of the State Government, and handles motions, statements and decisions made by the Minister-President and the State Government.

The Bavarian State Chancellery, located on Franz-Josef-Strauß-Ring in Munich, accommodates the executive offices of the Bavarian Minister-President.

As Bavaria’s highest state authority, the State Chancellery also coordinates legislative processes, such as the enactment of laws and ordinances. It is responsible for handling resolutions of the Bavarian State Parliament and for concluding treaties and administrative agreements with the governments of other German states.

The Bavarian State Government is formed by the Minister-President and currently 17 other persons holding the position of State Minister or State Secretary. They meet regularly as a cabinet to discuss, deliberate and decide on political issues.

In the Cabinet each member is entrusted with a clearly defined sphere of responsibility or special duties that reflect the broad spectrum of political topics covered. According to the Bavarian Constitution, the Bavarian Minister-President determines the number and scope of the fields of responsibility.

Under the Bavarian High-Tech Agenda and the High-Tech Agenda Plus, Bavaria is investing some 5.5 billion euro in a technology initiative that is unique in Germany. Specific and targeted stimuli for innovation across the state are having a widespread impact that will benefit people all over Bavaria.

Bavaria – connected to the world

The State of Bavaria maintains a network of own international relations with states and regions across the globe, some of which have evolved over decades.

Bavaria sees itself as a political entity that independently represents the interests of the Free State wherever affected.

As the world becomes increasingly interconnected and competitive pressures rise, Bavaria aims to actively shape this transformation and assert its interests on the global stage.

The attractiveness and standing of the Free State of Bavaria worldwide are two essential factors in its ongoing success. Bavaria’s international engagement is intended as a complement to and enrichment of the German federal government’s foreign policy. 

The Constitution of the Free State of Bavaria established the independence of the Free State as a constituent part of the Federal Republic of Germany. Drawn up by freely elected Bavarian politicians, the new democratic constitution was adopted by the State Assembly on 26 October 1946. It was also approved by the people of Bavaria when in a referendum 70 percent said YES.

Following adoption by the Council of Ministers of December 4, and upon publication in the Bavarian Gazette of Laws and Ordinances [Bayerisches Gesetz- und Verordnungsblatt), the Bavarian Constitution came into effect on 8 December 1946 under the then-Minister-President Wilhelm Hoegner.

The Free State became a democratic, cultural, social and constitutional state, and in 1949 part of the Federal Republic organised as a federation under Basic Law.

The Constitution of the Free State of Bavaria regulates the independence of Bavaria as a Federal State [Land] of the Federal Republic of Germany.

The Constitution can only be amended by way of legislation (Art. 75). Resolutions of the Bavarian State Parliament for an amendment of the Constitution must be presented to the people for decision.

The Bavarian Constitution is divided into four main parts and includes a total of 188 articles. Its first three articles stipulate that Bavaria is a Free State, that all state authority shall emanate from the people and that Bavaria is a cultural and social state governed by the rule of law. It goes on to describe the structure and tasks of the Free State, basic rights and duties, community life as well as economy and work. 

Did you know? The Landtag is one of the oldest parliaments in Europe.

Ilse Aigner (CSU) is President of the Landtag and is the most senior representative of the Bavarian State Parliament. She is responsible for conducting the business of the State Parliament.

Members of the Bavarian State Parliament are elected for five years. The 19th Bavarian Landtag was elected on 8 October 2023. It comprises 203 elected representatives from five parliamentary groups:

• CSU 
• FREIE WÄHLER 
• AfD [Alternative for Germany]
• BÃœNDNIS 90/DIE GRÃœNEN [Alliance 90/The Greens]
• SPD [Social Democratic Party]

Did you know? The Maximilianeum in Munich has been the seat of the Bavarian State Parliament since 1949.

The lozenge flag depicts a minimum of 21 blue and white lozenges, wherein the truncated lozenges are counted as well. If the flag is long and thin, the number of lozenges may be increased. The heraldic first lozenge in the right upper corner of the flag – top left corner (adjacent to flagpole) for the viewer – is always an incomplete, cut white lozenge. The striped flag has two equally wide horizontal stripes in the Bavarian colours: the white stripe being on top, the blue stripe on the bottom.

Note: Neither the striped flag nor the lozenge flag depict the Bavarian coat of arms.