Germany Backs Major Federal Shake-Up
Shaveta Bansal - All Headline News Staff Writer Berlin, Germany (AHN) - In a bid to modernize its aging federal system, the German parliament on Friday approved the country's biggest reforms to its political structure. The new system will make it easier to pass laws. The upper house, the Bundesrat, on Friday approved the federalism reform bill with the required two-third majority a week after the lower house, the Bundestag, passed it. The new reform called "mother of all reforms" is described as the most far reaching changes to the basic law since it was adopted in 1949, four years after World War II. Under the new system, the number of the bills that need approval from the Bundesrat, which represents Germany's 16 states, will be limited. Only 35 to 40 percent of draft laws will need the approval of both the houses as compared to previous 60 percent. The new legislation will have states losing power over national security prompting the states of - Mecklenburg-Western Pomerania and Schleswig-Holstein to vote against the bill. The new reform will land the state authorities with some powers such as changes in shop opening hours, and other matters ranging from education to prison. Political analysts say the overhaul will be implemented in stages from now to the start of 2007.
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